Fall 2013 gazette

Inside Sauti United States Internatinal University Fall 2013 magazine .......................................................................................................................................

SAUTI Celebrating Africa

MILESTONES: Africa - Kenya @ 50

<<

>>

Eugene Mbugua: ‘Young Money’

The Gazette MILESTONES

AfricA And KenyA @ 50

KaruNgarI KahENdE TAlenT To TAKe you plAces

EugENE Mbugua young Money

A PRINT MEDIA CLASS PUBLICATION

A tribute to Nelson Mandela

BY AFRAH ALI

FALL 2013

SEPTEMBER 09, 2013 - DECEMBER 10, 2013

Gone but not forgotten...

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities and led his country into a new era, died on December 5, 2013 at age 95 in his home in Johannesburg.

Mandela had been battling a prolonged lung infection after he contracted tuberculosis while working in a prison quarry. He had been in hospital in recent months.

World leaders and people from all walks of life converged in South Africa at his childhood village Qunu for the burial of the great leader.

A handheld lit candle depicting the remembrance of the departed souls.

Deeply saddened

More stories on Mandela on PAGE. 14

USIU fraternity holds a candle vigil in honour of the departed

by Stephen Mukhongi

T

he world over 2013 was not an easy year. Most headlines were dominated by sad news as many people lost their

I N S I D E

USIU students were also shaken by the death of Mandela. “As African students who represent the new generation of our continent, we here at USIU are deeply saddened by the departure of a great African.

We hope that the legacy of our Madiba will be carried on by our current and future generations through the exemplary character and humanity that he always portrayed,” said a student.

The the death of Madiba united the world surpassing continents, generations, races as well as religions.

lives in different misfortunes; from floods in Philippines, civil wars in Egypt, to terrorist attacks and a record number of road accidents here in Kenya. The death of anti-appartheid crusader and former South African president Nelson Mandela at the end of the year left the entire world saddened.

USIU community was no exception and the institution

experienced its fair share of sorrow as several of its members passed on leaving loved ones in grief. As a result, members of the University came together in a vigil held for the purpose of celebrating the lives of those who have left us.

The event dubbed Celebrating life – Letting Go, organized

by USIU’s Counseling Center took place in the auditorium

on October 30.

The occasion which went on between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm brought together students, faculty, staff and family, especially those who have experienced loss and grief regardless the duration of time that has elapsed since the incident.

“Through this event, we hope to put a smile on the faces of those who’ve been bereaved and to offer an avenue of support,” said one of the organizers.

“This will not be a sad event, but rather, a celebration of the time that we had to share with those who’ve gone ahead and to accept death as a part of our mortal journey,” added another organizer.

The session provided an opportunity to reflect on the kind of lives the departed members of USIU led in order to carry on their legacy. Other than recognizing, and celebrating the lives of the deceased, the other main purpose for the event according to the organizers was to “offer support through counseling for those who were affected and also to provide information on how to cope with loss and grief.” A representative from psychology department gave a presentation on how to deal with grief during the event.

The two-hour event was characterized by tree planting by the Sustainable Development Initiative Center (SUDIC) in tribute to the deceased, CONTINUED on page 2 >>

Entrepreneurs urged to invest in innovation

USIU student comes to the aid of Westgate victims

Ahmed, a force to reckon with in journalism

100 businesspersons graduated dur-

While many of us were getting away from

Working as a journalist in his home

ing the CEED graduation ceremony

Westgate, one of USIU’s students was

country Somalia, Muhyadin Ahmed Roble

held at the auditorium on October

rushing towards the mayhem in an ef-

has cheated death on several instances

31, 2013. PAGE 3 >>

fort to help the victims. PAGE 5 >>

confronting rerrorists. PAGE 9 >>

Page 2

Gazette Fall 2013

NEWS | EVENTS | UPDATES

Va r s i t y honors the departed

entertainment by USIU choir, Michezo Africa and other student groups, and brief speeches. Rita Asunda, DVC Student Affairs, delivered the Vice Chancellor’s keynote address. There was also a moment of silence and later a candle lighting exercise was conducted where different people in attendance lit candles to honor

>> Continued from Page. 1

the departed and wrote comfort messaged to bereaved families.

“Despite your absence, I still feel your presence and it gives me peace to know that you are resting in eternal peace,” read one of the messages. “You may be gone but you will never be forgotten,” read another.

Over the past year USIU has

lost six faculty and staff members, and 14 students.

Michael Manyibe, a journalism senior in an interview with The Gazette said the idea of having the vigil is a noble one as it helps comfort the the berieved.

“It is tough loosing people you’ve always interacted with” he said.

“The news of Jerry’s demise was

shocking; he was a promising young man who was a role model to many of us,” he added.

Holding a vigil helps friends and families in the recovery process.

Unlike other death memorials the event was not a sombre one; the berieved were in high spirits because it was not a time for grief, but celebration.

“We just got to remember their vision!, Gone, but NEVER FORGOTTEN” -Auliq Ice

R.I.P Dear Brothers and Sisters

Daniel Achieng Barasa

Sarah Akello Aruwa

BA International Relations

BA International Relations

Sydney Mgasa BSC Information Systems Technology

Jackson Ndung’u BSC Tourism Management

Martin Mwangoe

Nsanya Otis Kapya

Silvano Wilhem - Otieno

Nicholas Ngare

BSC Tourism Management

BSC Business Administration

BA International Relations

BSC Hotel & Restaurant Management

Brian Cedric Simiyu

Chrispin Momanyi

Hellen Kanyingi

Tito Mulwa

BSC Information Systems Technology

BSC International Business Administration

MA International Relations

BSC International Business Administration

David Seron BSC International Business Administration

Bernard Kainyungu

Simiyu Wambalaba

Dolly Gitonga

Staff, School of Business

Faculty, School of Business

Faculty, School of Humanities

Walter Wanyama

Brian Frisby

Jerry Isaac Mruma

Paul Kisolo Mweti

Faculty, School of Science & Technology

BSC Information Systems Technology

Master of Business Administration

Staff, Library

Page 3

Gazette Fall 2013

NEWS | EVENTS | UPDATES

Entrepreneurs urged to invest in innovation during graduation BY stephen mukhongi

B

usiness leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist Eric Kimani has advised graduates to be innovative in their businesses adventures.

Kimani was speaking during the Centre for Executive and Entrepreneurial Development (CEED) graduation ceremony held at the auditorium on October 31, 2013 where 100 businesspersons graduated. He said: “The only long term competitive advantage that a person or a business can have over a competitor is innovation.”

Kimani who was the chief guest at the event also encouraged the graduates to constantly improve their businesses by being “persistent entrepreneurs” and not to limit themselves.

“Opportunities are unlimited, you just have to convince yourself that you can do it,” said Kimani.

Different courses The graduation was organized by USIU in conjunction with the CEED program and saw entrepreneurs graduate from three different courses, namely: Executive Diploma in Industrial Relations, 10,000 Women Certificate Program for Women Entrepreneurs, and Certificate in Innovation and

Victoria Magnaghi, CEO of Java Juices, receives her certificate from Eric Kimani, MBS during the CEED graduation ceremony that was held at the USIU Auditorium. Looking on is Dr. George Achoki, Associate Professor of Accounting & Dean, Chandaria School of Business. Magnaghi was one of the 56 ladies who graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 women certificate program for women entrepreneurs. usiu.ac.ke

program like Innovation and which I have implemented in Management in Agribusiness.

Management in Agribusiness my business. I recommend the The program is a partnership begoes a long way in combating course to other ladies,” said one tween USIU and various organigraduand. zations such as Bill and Melinda food insecurity in the country.

According to Professor Ella Gates Foundation, TechnoServe “We provide entrepreneurs in King ,the CEED Executive Goldman Sachs FoundaDirector, the program protion, and Federation of ...opportunities are unlimited, you vides training and “value Kenya Employers (FKE) to train women entrepre- just have to convince yourself that you added services” resulting in successful business neurs on how to improve can do it.” -Eric Kimani ventures. their businesses through The graduation was characsupport networks. terized by an award ceremony, The programs impart among the agricultural industry with lots of entertainment, and a other things, management networks and give them techbusiness expo by various busiskills, computer proficiency, nical know-how. Consequently, nesses. and effective book keeping to they help in insuring there is Also in attendance at the participants. food security in the country,” ceremony was FKE’s Harrison According to Karen said Musikoyo.

Okeche and Techno Serve East Musikoyo, the CEED Admin“10,000 Women has taught Africa’s Chris Donohue. istrator at USIU, learning a me invaluable leadership skills

“

University launches public policy book

Award winning journalist tips students on public speaking techniques

BY Norbert amone

Invited guests hold up their copies of the Public Policy and Enterprise Development in Kenya book, during its launch at the Windsor Golf and Country Club on October 15. The book was edited by Professor Francis Wambalaba (far left) and presented to Vice Chancellor Professor Freida Brown(right). Dan Muchai

BY Norbert amone

On October 15 United States International University (USIU) launched a public policy book titled, Public Policy and Enterprise Development in Kenya.

The book aims to enhance environment for business start-up and growth.

The university partnered with Trust Africa and IDRC in the project. The book was written by a group of Kenyan researchers and edited by USIU’s Professor Francis Wambalaba.

“The goal of the book launch is to engage policy makers and link the industry with academia,” said Wambalaba.

An award-winning sports journalist has offered students tips on how to become good public speakers.

Wahiga Mwaura of Citizen TV said public speakers are not born but groomed. He was speaking during a talk organised

by USIU Public Speaking Club on October 9 at the Chandaria School of Business .

He emphasized to the audience that any one who is welltrained and frequently practices the art of speaking can be a great speaker. He named the likes of KTN’s Jeff Koinange and Citizen TV’s Johnson Mwakazi as his mentors. He further reiterated

News briefs TOUR: Disadvantaged students visit University Fifty children from the Marurui Jua Kali informal settlement were hosted on campus on October 21 by the Department of Fundraising and External Relations.

The youngsters aged between 10 and 14 years toured campus facilities and were treated to a luncheon at the cafeteria and motivational talks from the Counseling Department and Dr. Manu Chandaria.

The visit to USIU was made possible by the Mathare United Youth Organisation, with the Admissions Department contributing USIU memorabilia as take-away gifts.

Unilever director speaks on self-branding

TALK:

The Placement and Career Services office hosted Unilever East and Southern Africa Human Resource (HR) Director Hellen Bvekerwa on October 9.

Drawing from her own experience, Bvekerwa spoke on how to effectively enter the corporate world, emphasizing the need for students to properly brand themselves as they leave college life to begin their careers.

Bvekerwa visit was made possible by Junior Achievement – a worldwide organization dedicated to educating students on workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

NEW: USIU to commence offering Microsoft courses

Wahiga Mwaura during the event

that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and the U.S. President Barack Obama honed their public speaking skills through frequent public speaking. He urged the students to read widely because any one who reads widely as well as listens to good speeches played out on BBC Radio and TV coul become an incredible speaker.

USIU started to offering Microsoft Certification Courses this semester. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is one of the courses offered.

The classes, which are being filled on a first-come-first-served basis, will be held on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30am to 4:30 pm at the Software Lab. The university hopes to impart the necessary ICT skills to the general student population.

Page 4

Gazette Fall 2013

NEWS | EVENTS | UPDATES Universities told to partner with private entities

USIU renovates school as part of its community service initiatives ing environment for Murema school students.

This event is usually as a result of institutions of higher learning joining in on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs to improve conditions in the education sector.

The program supports the sector by donating basic learning materials such as books,

By Gazette team

Kenyan universities have been urged to colloborate with NonGovernmental Organizations in the field of applied research.

Kenya Commercial Bank Managing Director Samuel Makome said local universities must not only partner with NGOs, but also with private entities that are willing to fund the application of research.

Makone was speaking during the first Eastern Africa Multidisciplinary Applied Research Conference hosted by USIU on November 12 at the Windsor Hotel.

Speaking at the same event, USIU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Professor Mathew Buyu called on researchers to share their knowledge. “We must be prepared to share our knowledge as keeping it guarded hinders the critical role applied research plays in providing real solutions to real problems,” said Prof. Buyu.

The conference whose theme was the relevance of applied research in society aimed at bringing together government decision makers, international partners, researchers and students in order to promote the sharing of findings and experiences in applied research.

“

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. It is time to give back to the community, by visiting the community around us and giving other students the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and happy environment.”

USIU’s Vice Chancellor Professor Frieda Brown poses for a picture with students of Murema Primary School during Frieda Brown Day. USIU.AC.KE

BY Maryanne Ng’ong’i

F

reida Brown Day 2013 gave a beautiful and exciting experience to USIU students, staff and faculty.

The students had an opportunity to spend time with the USIU Vice Chancellor Professor Freida Brown and pupils from Murema Primary school as they cleaned the school and shared lunch with them. Only in USIU do you learn the art of embracing what you

Construction of ultra modern School of Science underway

The school of science construction site. Stephen Mukhongi

By Gazette team

The ultra modern School of Science and Technology building behind the library is expected to be complete by the end of summer 2014.

The building will have a total of eight classrooms, eight laboratories, two lecture theatres, two meeting rooms and twenty

pupils to learn as well do their co-curricular activities.

Participants had a fun experience in carrying out various activities such as painting the interior and exterior of several classrooms, putting up soft boards, replacing window panes and other works of repair.

All these activities were meant to boost the pupil’s academic morale since the environment

eight offices. The 7,500 square feet building will have energy conserving features like solar panels, energy saving lighting, natural ventilation systems and other ‘green’ features that are environmental friendly.

At the same time, the expansion of the visiting faculty residential units is also almost complete .The apartment block which is located next to the current ones will contain six units.

Visiting faculty are instructors who hold a doctoral degree and an academic appointment at another institution and who wish to teach for a semester or two while on leave from their home institution.

have by sharing it with the world and community around.

This year’s community service day held on at Murema Primary School in Kasarani witnessed an impressive turn out by both employees and students to mark the institution’s community service day which is commonly known as Freida Brown Day. All participants had a common goal which was to create a clean, conducive and safe learn-

- Professor Frieda Brown desks, fixing of structures and building classrooms, which ensure pupils have basic facilities to acquire good education.

Initiative This year, the university partnered with Sadolin, a company that manufactures paints, in an initiative to renovate the classrooms and leveling the playground.

This they hope will create an enabling environment for the

in which they learn has a major impact on their ultimate academic performances. Mihira Patel from Sadolin Paints assured participants that the paint was lead free, thus not harmful to their health. Participants also planted over 200 tree seedlings.

Activities done

> Cleaning school > Leveling playground > Sharing Lunch > Clearing the fields

Study faults standardized tests between what the student scored in a GMAT or GRE test and how On October 9, Dr. Mithey performed over the course chael Kihara (Associate Professor of Psyof their graduate chology) presented studies. his preliminary reUSIU’s research and search findings on the relationship between graduate studies standardized tests office organizes scores and graduate the weekly colGrade Point Average loquium to expose the cam(GPA) during the colloquium session held pus community in the library. to the research The preliminary Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Michael Kihara (right) listens activities underanalysis of the data to John Otsola (center) share his views on the researcher’s findings taken by both extracted from ad- during the colloquium session on October 9th. usiu.ac.ke students and missions and acafaculty.

Dr. Kihara is expected to comdemic records of a sample USIU undergraduate career . plete his research by the end of Surprisingly, Dr. Kihara’s repopulation also revealed that a Spring 2014. search showed no relationship student is likely to perform just

BT gAZETTE TEAM

as well in their graduate studies, as they did in the course of their

Page 5

Gazette Fall 2013

NEWS | EVENTS | UPDATES

USIU student helps Westgate victims

University in finals of law contest

by AFRAH ALI

By NOBERT AMONE

W

hile many of us were getting away from Westgate, one of USIU’s students was rushing towards the mayhem in an effort to help the victims.

On September 21 the Westgate Mall in Westlands Nairobi was attacked by terrorists leaving at least 67 people dead. The nation is still reeling with anxiety and disbelief.

One of Kenya’s worst terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Shabab managed to leave a trail of blood and carnage, but failed in destabilizing Nairobi, one of sub-Saharan Africa’s major cities. While many of us on that fateful day were getting as far away from Westgate as we could, one of USIU’s students Sahil Gada was rushing towards the mayhem in an effort to help the victims.

Rescue efforts The Oshwal Center that is a neighbor of The Westgate Mall, became a core landmark for rescue efforts as its doors and resources were opened for treating the injured, serving food to the military, journalists and victims as well as giving any supplies and other support that was needed.

The center normally serves as a spiritual facility for Nairo-

By Michael manyibe

“USIU Through My Lens: A Historical Journey” was the theme of photographer Stephen Mukhongi’s photo exhibition that told the university’s story through his magnificent pictures.

Mukhongi, a senior journalism student at USIU held a three-day exhibition from December 3 to December 5 at the old library bookshop as part of his senior project.

The exhibition comprised pictures of long serving members of staff and faculty accompanied by anecdotes from them.

The interviewees included Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Professor Mathew Buyu, transport, and hostel staff, among others.

Most of the personalities have worked at USIU for over

Kenya Red Cross and other volunteers helping victims of the Westgate terrorist attack. Nation.co.ke

bi’s Jain community, a small religious group from India that is guided by principles of non-violence towards all living beings and emphasizes peace and equality between all forms of life.

Gada, a journalism student in his 3rd year at USIU and a members of the Jain community stated, “in times like these I don’t think we ask too many questions but just do what we can to help people who are in a critical situation.”

Moments of terror He said that Oshwal Center trained him in First Aid and

emergency response. “Although attack says, “we were around 400 volunteers and worked in I knew somewhat what to expect, we experienced many moments shifts. The experience was diffiof terror where we heard guncult because of all the bloodshed shots and felt that we might get and loss of lives we witnessed but there was a hit,” said Gada.

A first aid real sense of accenter was set In times like these I complishment up in the under- don’t think we ask too in helping.” has ground car park many questions but just Kenya do what we can to help always been to help the overwhelmed and people who are in a criti- religiously diover-occupied cal situation.” - Sahil Gada verse. Chrishospitals. On tians, Muslims, the subsequent days of the ruthHindus and other religions were less blockade, around 15,000 united during this time of terror, meals were served three times as hatred and prejudice were rejected, while unity and onea day inside the religious center. ness was embraced.

Gada reflecting back on the

“

Photographer tells varsity’s history through his pictures

Professor Buyu looks at his own-self in the open gallery. Stephen Mukhongi

two decades.

“Few members of USIU community know the institution’s

facts and general history; even fewer appreciate the beauty that is USIU campus,” said

Mukhongi.

The photographer sought to showcase distinctive locations, infrequent moments as well as important personalities who’ve made USIU to what it is today.

This was achieved through beautifully created photographs accompanied by captions on little known facts and history about the University.

“I love your idea; I have learnt a lot in the six minutes I’ve been in the exhibition about my campus. Your pictures are simply epic,” wrote one student in the comment book.

“This is a great initiative; it should be larger , more involving and revamp advertising strategies,” remarked Professor Buyu.

Mukhongi intends to donate the pictures in display, both in print and soft copy, during the open gallery to various departments and the interviewees.

USIU International Relations (IR) students qualified for the finals of The National Moot Court competition.

The competition is an annual international humanitarian law competition that brings together students of humanitarian law from various universities across the country. IR students from USIU are, however, included in the competition because they study international humanitarian and the fundamental laws featured in the competition.

Each participating university was required to be represented by at least two teams of two to three students. USIU was represented by Afrikana Njuru, Franklin Mireri and Edwin Chege in Team One, and Rachel Chebukati, Tabitha Mwangi and Alvin Wafula in Team Two. The competition involves three sequential rounds; the preliminary round, the semi-finals and the finals. USIU achieved the distinction of being the only team to have both teams proceed past the preliminary rounds and into the semi-finals.

Team Two managed to qualify for the final, where they unfortunately but graciously lost to the University of Nairobi and Moi University to clinch third place.

The first two teams proceed to represent Kenya in Arusha for the Regional Moot Court edition following which the winners get to represent the East Africa in the Africa competition.

Business plan training resumes BY gazette correspondent

Professor Scott Bellows commenced training workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs on October 4, at the Chandaria School of Business. The weekly sessions will last for two hours beginning at 10am, and will involve guiding participants through the various stages of creating a business plan, with a final session slotted for presentation of a complete proposal to a panel of judges.

Professor Bellows is the Director of the New Economy Venture Accelerator (NEVA) - a business incubation initiative.

Page 6

Gazette Fall 2013

OPINION | COMMENTARY | VIEWS Lets learn to appreciate life

T

here is nothing as precious as the lives we live. It’s the best gift ever given to mankind, the ability to be able to wake up, walk around, enjoy the beauty that surrounds us and to share good times with our loved ones. Nothing compares to that. Even when one is on a dying bed, all they can wish for is to live another day. But it seems as if some of students have forgotten the value of the lives they have. All too often, they abuse it in the name of having a good time.

Don’t get us wrong, we are not suggesting that it is wrong to go out with a bunch of friends to have a good time, be it at a club or a friend’s place, rather our concern is at these events, this precious gift of life is often abused. The consequences of abusing life can be dire in sense that death is often the end result it.

In the past two years, we have lost a few friends, brothers, acquaintances in such a painful manner. It’s heart-breaking to know that if they had only given second thought to the value of their lives then maybe the painful outcome could have been avoided. As we begin the new year, let us keep in mind the value of our lives, and we can do so by avoiding reckless behaviors such as binge drinking.

No drinking and driving or getting in a car with a drunk driver at all cost. Avoid drugs at all cost, whatever the allure is, resist it! It does nothing good except ruining you slowly.

Remember, there is a time for everything in life. There is a time for attending classes, a time for studying, a time for partying, a time for relaxing, a time for recreation and leisure activities but use wisdom and good judgement as you engage in these activities; know when to say enough is enough and be balanced in all you do. May the new year be a wonderful one for you and remember if there is anything we need to appreciate and cherish is our lives.

Lets learn to appreciate life!

Rewarding excellence

P

resident Uhuru Kenyattta awarded seven members of the President Award Club at USIU the prestigious Gold certificates.

The students who included Lenin Manga, Catherine W. Kibathi, Micheal Gachanja, Naomi Munene Wambui, Githinji Mwai, Eric Gicheha, Elsie Opondo successfully completed three levels of the International Award Program.

The honour by the Head of State to the super USIU students enables them to join the privileged ranks of the President’s Award club membership.The President’s Award-Kenya (PA-K) is an exciting self-development programme available to all young people countrywide equipping them with positive life skills to make a difference for themselves, their communities, country and the world. It was launched in 1966 by the founding father of the nation, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

We think this is a great achievement and deserves applause.

However, we wish to remind them that the award came with a bigger responsibility. They are now expected to be role models and inspire other youth to reach for optimum potential in their endevours. The Award is a member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association, which oversees the Award Programme for young people in over 120 countries.

Ultimately we call upon the President to initiate an awareness drive to mobilize the youth to participate in this noble initiative.

The Gazette A PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION OF USIU PROFESSOR FREIDA BROWN - Vice Chancellor PROFESSOR JIMMY MACHARIA - Dean, School of Science & Technology EDITORIAL TEAM DR. KIOKO IRERI - Faculty Advisor NORBERT AMONE - Editor-in-chief STEPHEN MUKHONGI - Managing Editor LUL OSMAN - Chief Sub Editor MARYANNE NG’ONG’I - News Editor KLEIN MANGA - Education Editor AFRAH ALI & MICHAEL MANYIBE - Layout & Design DEBORAH AKOLO - Features Editor KEVIN KIRITU - Photography Editor DERRICK NTEGE - Sports Editor

Art By Adil Fazal

MEDIA GAG | Stephen Mukhongi

New media laws, a scheme to silence Press

T

David Ohito in reaction to the he media is said to be the watch dog of the society as signing. “The law is an insult on it checks other bodies including the media freedom and journalthe government and enlightens ists and media houses are bethe public on issues of national ing targeted for gagging through importance. draconian legislation aimed at In a late-night sitting on killing freedom of expression,” October 31, Kenyan Members Ohito added. of Parliament in an act equal Some parts of the Bill threatto blind-folding the watchdog, en independence of the Media passed a new media law that Council by according the Cabithreatens freedom of the press net Secretary or a governmentin the country. controlled body with the power The passage of the Media Council Bill meant journalists would be handed heavy penalties for ‘infringing’ the journalists code of conduct.

According to the Bill, media owners risk being fined up to Sh20 million, while journalists will pay Sh500,000 in fines, on top of being derigistered and having their bank accounts Journalists protesting against the draconian frozen.

On December 16th, few media law. Capital..co.ke days after Kenya at 50 celebraof disbanding and reconstituting tions that marked advancement the body responsible of regulatof the country since indepening the media. dence, President Uhuru KeIn recent times journalists in nyatta went ahead to sign into Kenya have experienced undue law the Kenya Information and pressure and intimidation from Communications Act. our politicians. The principal of The Act stipulates stiffer penupholding the freedom of expression that was top of camalties for “errant media houses” and individual journalists depaign agenda during election pespite angry protests from media riod has since been abandoned stakeholders and the civil society and replaced with demonization who blamed the government for of journalists.

Prior to signing the represattempting to gag the media.

“The President’s action to sive law the President’s had even sign into law the bill is a set said newspapers are only good back to the industry,” said Kefor wrapping meat. It all became nya Editors Guild Vice Chair clear then that freedom of the

press is never in the agenda of the ruling class.

The media it seems is now being literally made “to pay for its sins” after rubbing the state the wrong way by audaciously reporting any delinquencies.

Case in point, are the accusations of misconduct labelled against the Kenya Defence Forces by the media during rescue operations following the Westgate terror attacks on September 21st, leading to President Uhuru Kenyatta warning the media to be “responsible in their reporting”. Barely a week after the warning, few MPs colluded to pass the repressive media laws.

In her speech in NewsXchange, which brings together broadcasters from around the world, in Morocco on November 14, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour urged news industry leaders and politicians to defend journalism and have respect for human rights, including freedom of the press.

“What we are, are story-tellers,” Amanpour said. “Without that commitment to storytelling, the industry would lose its reason to exist and society would lose the ability to hold politicians to account,” she added.

In passing the media Bill , Kenya joins other nations like Turkey, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Kuwait, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia with such draconian laws and aggressive political interference.

Page 7

Gazette Fall 2013

OPINION | COMMENTARY | VIEWS ACADEMIC RESEARCH | Afra Ali

African scholars need to take their place in academic research

W

hen I think of a researcher, I can’t help but think of an old white man with glasses and a receding hairline who is locked in an office all alone and talking to himself.

While decades of media consumption might have programmed many of us to think of researchers in this way, the lack of people of color and Africans in general who have or are conducting active research is evidence that the stereotype is somewhat true.

The leading factor separates the horses from the mules in any field of study. While African economies and political climates continue to make leaps towards

thriving and reformative systems, we still have a long way to go in closing the African gap on research. A great responsibility lies with current undergraduate and graduate students in Africa to take the torch of research and title of “Africa expert” away from the West and into our own hands.

In most universities around the world, research culminates a large proportion of faculty and student focus. According to Oregon State University research official, “research at OSU is interpreted broadly to reflect what goes on, not only in laboratories and field stations but also in libraries, art studios, and music practice rooms. Under-

graduates are a part of OSU’s exciting community of discovery, creativity, and innovation from all academic disciplines within the University.”

Dr. Kioko Ireri. Courtesy

Research doesn’t have to be boring and mundane work on a topic we have no interest in, but can be an exciting and transformative experience for

us. Many students primary focus in University is to gain skills to obtain employment after graduation.

With so many students graduating in the same field of study and a limited amount of jobs available, being involved in scholarly research can give us a competitive edge in job interviews.

USIU is one of the few universities in Kenya where students are fortunate to have professors who engage in research at their disposal for mentorship.

Under the watchful eye of greatly experienced faculty who have published works of their own, students have an opportunity

to gain a wealth of knowledge and conduct their own research.

Dr. Kioko Ireri, a political communication researcher and an assistant professor of journalism and mass communication at USIU who has studied under the renowned journalism scholar Professor David Weaver, has called on African institutions of higher learning to embrace research-oriented education in their curricular.

This, he says will act as a springboard for boosting academic research in the continent.

Embracing research, Dr. Ireri says will make Africa a major contributor in the creation of knowledge.

REDEFINING AFRICA | Lul Osman

It’s time our media tell the true African narrative to the world

ernments and organizations to Africa through fight between corrupt the African elite, and get tribes, religions, and geography. them to behave The influence of Western media so irrationally towards their own If foreign aid could in Africa is very populations and develop any place, Afri- negative, and the basic interest ca will be the most de- could be confor these organizations to raise ehold, Africa’s problems of their country. veloped continent in the sidered as part of As a starting world.” might not be the ones you’re Africa problems. money for their operations, they point he says, “if -Mawuna R. Koutonin thinking of.

In some way, this have engaged into “poverty porn” Discussion Africa’s probAfrica needs any newspaper, and depicting Africa with the most lems is usually bound aid, the most urgent one the work of African journalists to bring up issues like is to get rid of the 40 bil- represents a gradual but monulion corruption industry mental shift in the African narcorruption, HIV/AIDS, called International Aid rative; in the way the continent’s war and disease. that shackles its youth stories are told and its issues are In his article, “Afriand elite, cultivates and presented. Portraying the right ca’s Top 10 Problems,” maintains the beggar image is a manifestation of the Mawuna Remarque mentality. If foreign aid power we wield with our access Koutonin, looks at could develop any place, to information.

Africa’s issues from a different point of view Africa would be the most Despite the perceived ills and that most of us have developed continent in grim perceptions of Africa, stanot thought of or just the world.” tistics prove the doubters wrong. ignored.

He also says that in- Majority of the world’s fastest He looks at issues ternational media is one growing economies are in Africa, like poverty, which he of the biggest threat to and despite the newspaper insays humanitarian orpeace and development dustry rapidly declining around ganizations like UNI- Pulitzer price winning photo depicting a famine stricken child that was taken in 1994 during the in Africa. African tribes the world, it grew by 32% last CEF, Doctors Without Sudan famine. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. No one knows what are created in London, year in Africa. These are just Borders as well as the happened to the child but the photographer committed suicide three months later due to depres- Brussels and Paris by small examples that highlight other NGOs have done sion. These are the kinds of images often used to describe Africa to the world. Kevin Carter/afp journalists. The West- the potential of this continent. ern media seems to follow an It’s time to take ownership of more damage to Africa than the lem is international aid. degrading, and humiliating imagenda of further dividing Af- our narrative and tell the true Koutonin states that, intermarginal positive impact they ages. This is a thought that often rican nations and populations version of the story; for Africa, national aid has become the supposedly have had. strikes us and it pains us when with their constant framing of the opportunities are endless. main tool used by foreign govHe explains that in order we see our people being shown

B

in that light on huge billboards and magazines because of how Africans’ collective dignity is trampled on.

Photos showing Africa at its worst is what fills the mind of billions of people around the world, and unfortunately those people can’t help but think about Africa only through those images. The other major prob-

“

“People go to Africa and confirm what they already have in their heads and so they fail to see what is there in front of them. This is what people have come to expect. It’s

“Africa for the Africans... at home

not viewed as a serious continent. It’s a place of strange, bizarre and illogical things,

and abroad!”

where people don’t do what common sense demands.”

Marcus Garvey

Chinua Achebe

Page 8

Gazette Fall 2013

FEATURES | LIFESSTYLE AFFAIRS OF THE HEART | Lucy Kung’u

Dealing with break-ups is excruciating, but there is hope after moving on

B

efore you “dump” the other person consider this: A break up of a relationship when one partner is not ready is traumatic. The moment of discovery is painful and stressful; it is overwhelming and hurts, especially when the dumped person was deep in love. .

The person who is “dumped” feels abandoned, alone and is filled with intrusive thoughts, many unanswered questions in their mind wondering what is wrong with them. The way the call off is said or done becomes persistently re-experienced. The person is enraged because there is breach of intimacy.

had hoped that he or she will always receive love, comfort and care from this one person forever this brings confusion, as the person doesn’t know whether he or she should continue seeing or talking to the other.

For a relationship that breaks abruptly erasing the relational legacy becomes difficult for the person who had invested in the relationship and did not want it to stop. Relational legacy refers to the unique accumulative experiences that developed

ship legacy has nothing nice to hold onto or they did not get romantically, lovingly and or significantly attached to the other person.

It is worth noting that people relate at different levels. For some they get into a relationship just to have a nice time, for others it’s friendship yet for others it is a deep emotional attachment, to them the partner is a lover.

Casual There are relationships that are casual, brief and aimed at achieving something someone wants. Other relationships are serious, meant for establishing a long term permanent relationship.

When in a relationship it is important to establish at which

assumptions held whether the relationship was serious hence exclusive of others, or casual and hence inclusive of others.

Finding relief from the pain of a break up.

Counselors will tell you that a relational injury is one of the most difficult issues for clients to recover from. When dealing with this type of hurt it is important to note that though hurt, what did not work is the relationship and not you the individual. To recover one has to allow themselves to mourn the loss and then tap on their relational resources to be able to move on with life.

evaluate the assumptions, ideas and beliefs held, expectations, and interpretations of events/ situations in the relationship.

This will help clarify what part each person in the relationship played in the broken relationship and how one can be able to tap on their relational resources, enhance them and be ready for the next more fulfilling relationship.

The counselor will also help the client set the standards for what a good relationship will entail tapping on their strengths and helping them overcome their weaknesses.

Different people

Relationships can build or destroy individuals. It is important to uphold the following values that are critical for relationships; trust, integrity, safety, security, commitment and for some permanence especially if the two decide the relationship is exclusively for them. People in a relationship have needs among them being valued, accepted, mutuality, positive impact, faithfulness, forgiveness, intimacy and a special quality emotional closeness between the two people.

The effect of a break up has different impact on different people. There are those who

Solitary moments Solitary moments after the break up are filled with intrusive thoughts of how long the partner might have lied to him/her, how stupid he/she must have been, if the other partner moves into another relationship immediately. One plays back several times a day every detail that had occurred between them in their relationships over the period they were together trying to establish if any of it was ‘for real’.

Relationship thrives

Disorders A broken relationship has deleterious consequences to the mental and physical health of the partners involved. It can lead to physical illness, anxiety, depression, violence, drunkenness and the accidents related to it, poor academic performance, suicide, sexual dysfunctions, eating or sleeping disorders, immunosuppression of the body which opens one to many diseases among other effects.

This also affects a person’s fundamental assumptions about relationships. The person may become hyper vigilant to cues of break up with any future relationship.

When the “dumped” person is in denial, he or she may try to get back to the relationship so will continue calling the other as if nothing happened. The person holding on to the relationship

Values

process it very fast and are able to let go, however there are those who have intense emotional involvement in the relationship and feel deeper pain and take long to manage the trauma associated with a break up.

It becomes more dif… intimacy ... is the special connection between the two ficult for people in the where there is openness and interchange is possible, differences relationship who have experienced difficulare accepted and none is superior to the other. ties in their past life.

Psychological disturbances originate from unresolved conflict deep in the the other thought he or she had tailor made way in which the two of you engaged in making found a lover - “...until death do unconscious levels of the mind. meaning of your relationship us part”. It also hurts more if This is what makes it important and in celebrating and honor the relationship was emotionally to talk to a professional counselor. your connection. The things you and sexually charged.

The counselor will help one A relationship will hurt dedid together leave a legacy for seek out problems thought to the relationship. pending on the tie or connection There are people who are able between the two, the degree of originate from conflicts left over emotional and sexual involveto call it quits and immediately from earlier experiences. The ment or abstinence, the secrets counselor will help the person move on easily and quickly. This shared, the agreement or the increase their self-awareness, is because either the relationbetween the two of you over a period of time- the unique history that was created and shared between the two of you. It is composed of the good and bad times, the experiences and the unique,

level the relationship is at. When a break up happens it hurts more when one had thought the relationship was casual and the other thought it was serious, or they were just having fun and

This intimacy should not be confused with romance because romance is just about sexual arousal which can happen with anyone, intimacy on the other hand is the special connection between the two where there is openness and interchange is possible, differences are accepted and none is superior to the other. If these needs are met the relationship thrives and both partners experience personal growth; if not, the relationship becomes toxic, affects the wellbeing of both partners and can be a survival threatening problem.

Walk away But when can we break a relationship? When no expectations are being met, when it is violent, intolerable, no commitment . Note there are people who could be together in a relationship but their relationship is “dead”, either the two discover this and work on it or one decides to walk away from it.

The writer is the head of the Counselling Center, USIU.

Page 9

Gazette Fall 2013

FEATURES | PEOPLE | LIFESTYLE

Muhyadin Ahmed Roble: A force to reckon with in journalism profession

Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, reporter on matters Somali. stephen mukhongi

By Wairimu Mukami

W

e all have a passion for something. The love which starts from an early age, but as we get older our passion takes a back seat to life’s many ups and downs.

BY KENYA SARAH

Do you have an upcoming exam, or a presentation and time is not on your side? Are you one of those who stays up all night trying to study instead of being tucked in under your cozy bed sheets? If yes, then sleep deprivation is not just killing your social life but it is hurting your body too. Here are ten ways in which sleep deprivation can mess your body up.

Stress hormone Firstly, it stresses you out.

Your body elevates its levels of cortisol, also known as “the stress hormone” when you don’t get enough sleep. And we know how your day can be ruined in a matter of seconds when you are stressed.

Secondly, it makes you hungrier and fatter. There are two opposing hormones in your body that regulate your appetite — leptin and ghrelin.

In individuals who lack sleep, the body produces less leptin and more ghrelin which makes you hungrier. Scientists from Stanford University and the

I remember a time when society encouraged people to pursue practical things that would earn them money that is fulfilling to the soul. However, the reality today is that people are easily accepting dead end jobs just to earn a living and in the process

sacrifice their happiness.

However, there are some people who have defied this endless cycle. A classic example would be Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, a journalist from Mogadishu, Somalia. At an early age Roble knew he wanted to be a journalist and tell people about his country. His career started at the age of 18 years in an environment where there were no systems to protect journalists.

Athough he came from a country that faced conflict for over 20 years, it never killed his spirit and passion to chase his dream.

He has overlooked the challenges that come with the profession to be what he has always dreamed of. He says, “ever since i was young, I was more than eager to find ways that I would help contribute to the peace and reconciliation in my country.”

His desire is to tell the stories of ordinary people of his country and bring out the positive side of the country. He does not allow the everyday stereotype to over shadow his vision and tends to not focus on the negatives like

Al-Shaabab and the unsettling political disputes.

However, his career along the way has not been all rosy.

One of his assignments in Somalia was to research claims of toxic waste being dumped on the shore. He visited a town called Hobye with the escort of the deputy chairman of the local administration who was to guide him as well as a local police officer for protection.

Nevertheless, with all the precautions he took there were many unexpected circumstances waiting for him. When he arrived in Hobye they were confronted by eight men who began shooting at them and ordered them to get out of the vehicle.

The police officer who was travelling with him gathered the courage and walked toward the gunmen to arbitrate. But the officer’s plea fell on deaf ears.

Quickly the gunmen moved to ransack the vehicle Roble was travelling in and all their personal items, checking everything including Roble’s note-

Sleep deprivation unhealthy University of Wisconsin noticed that after one night of little to no sleep, a person’s body mass index increases.

Thirdly, sleep deprivation destroys your ability to concentrate. According to studies in the US National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health, sleep deprivation affects your brain’s frontal lobes, slowing down their communications. In terms of concentration that means you are impairing your spacial, auditory and visual attention. And forget about doing anything monotonous for a long period of time.

The fourth way in which sleep deprivation hurts your body is that it hurts your working memory. Working memory can be divided into four subsystems: phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer and

of their inability to concentrate, that subjects had to be fast or accurate. They were unable to do both.

Moreover, it makes it harder for you to remember a face. Sleep deprivation adversely affects a part of your brain called the (iconic memory) thalamus which, along with the and the medial temporal lobes, regulates your ability to recognize others.

Another negative effect of sleep deprivation is that it makes it even harder to remember what people say. Face recognition relies on the thalamus, but verbal memory relies on the prefrontal episodic cortex, which is adversely af buffer to fected during sleep deprivation. integrate information Emotionally irrational Sleep deprivation also could make one emotionally irrational. Sleep deprivation boosts

from several the parts of your brain that are different sources. All of those are connected to how well your fronassociated with depression and tal lobe works, and that takes a cause you to overreact to negahit when you don’t sleep. tive experiences. It also hampers You also can’t multi-task. the prefrontal lobe which helps Scientists tested subjects for to regulate emotion.

It is worth noting that conspeed and accuracy after an ‘allnighter.’ They found, because tinued sleep deprivation can put

central executive.

The phonological loop is assumed to temporarily store verbal and acoustic information (echo memory); the sketchpad, to hold visuospatial information

book. Right there one of them shouted that he was from the Puntland security forces and immediately ordered them to be detained at gun point. Luckily he managed to be freed without any bloodshed.

Despite this harrowing ordeal Roble is still doing his journalist work as a security and conflict analyst at Jamestown Foundation. He also did another story that triggered lots of controversy in Somalia is, the Al-Shabaab Deserters.

The story was met with fury because it touched on an issue that many wanted to keep a secret.

Roble says “the story made a lot of impact on the ground. It got people talking and put pressure on the Somali government.” All this was not in vain as the story got him a nomination in the London-based Thomas Foundation Young Journalist Award.

Roble’s story clearly demonstrates how feeding your mind with positive information can help you find your passion. His transformation and growth over the years is worth emulating.

you at risk for diabetes. Lack of sleep can increase blood sugar levels by decreasing insulin production. Additionally, it makes it easier for you to get sick and takes longer to recover from being sick. Sleep deprivation suppresses the immune system and impairs our fever response. It can even make us less responsive to vaccines (from WebMD):

Immune response John Park, MD, a pulmonologist who specializes in sleep medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, agrees.

“We know that our immune response is suppressed when we are sleep deprived and that we develop less antibodies to certain vaccines if we are sleepdeprived.”

Park says: “It takes longer for our body to respond to immunizations, so if we are exposed to a flu virus, we may be more likely to get sick than if we are well rested when vaccinated.”

So the next time you think of pulling an ‘all-nighter’, STOP and consider the long term effects.

Page 10

Gazette Fall 2013

GUEST COLUMNIST | ESSAY

The nexus between ‘Ujamaa’ and ‘Nyumba kumi’ initiative The recently launched Nyumba Kumi initiative in Kenya borrows heavily from Nyerere’s socialism concept of Ujamaa

By Deborah Akolo

J

ulius K. Nyerere was a world statesman and the President of Tanzania from 1961 to 1985, a time during which he was profoundly committed to the welfare of his people, an aspect that endeared him to the hearts of those he ruled over. Not quite what you would say for many a leader today! For over 40 years, Tanzanians had in their midst a leader of unquestionable integrity.

In 1967, Nyerere set on a journey to bring about the socialist transformation of Tanzania. He was totally against the capitalistic way of life embraced by many an African leaders and sought to bring his people together in a brotherly way. He envisaged a country that lived together in close-knit units where a person could not lack if his neighbor had. The person would simply walk to his neighbor and have his need taken care of.

He believed that socialism was an attitude of the mind more than it was a ‘rigid adherence to a standard political pattern’. This was the only way he believed that the people would care for one another’s welfare. To him, the possession or non-possession of wealth was a non-issue; what really mattered is the use to which the wealth was put, something

Based on equality

built for him by the military. He is famously quoted as saying, “The man who uses wealth for the purpose of dominating any of his fellows is a capitalist, and so is the man who would if he could”.

Nyerere’s socialism stood on the solid foundation of the traditional institution of the extended family. Having himself come from an extended family where everyone did things together, he commended such kind of living to all Tanzanians at large.

Just like those in an extended family setting would not steal or kill each other, so Nyerere sug-

he lacked personal wealth; he could depend on the wealth that belonged to the community of which he was a member. That was socialism. That is socialism.”

Nyerere was totally against idleness and therefore made it obligatory for all and sundry to work. To back this sentiment, he quotes an old Swahili saying, “Mgeni siku mbili, siku ya tatu mpe jembe.” (Treat your guest as a guest for two days; on the third day give him a hoe). Every person was urged to work and earn their living in this society.

Needless then to say that there was no place for thieves or ‘golddiggers’ in Nyerere’s society.

In matters related to equality, he was against the employeremployee relationship as he saw it, above all else, as exploitative.

In such a setting, wealth was acquired to dominate others, something that he was completely against, and did not reflect on the traditional African society, which never acquired wealth for the purpose of dominating others. This he gives as the reason why there were no millionaires in the traditional African society.

This saw the coining of the First among equals famous Ujamaa concept – the One of the pillars of Ujamaa ideal society - that has to date was the joint ownership of babeen credited with the closesic property, and in essence, knit lifestyle and maintenance land. Though personal propof peace in the country. The erty was not refused, it took a concept of Ujamaa was theosecond place in the hierarchy of retically based in the Arusha importance. Because property Declaration. Though many of was joint, all had a right to share Julius Kambarage Nyerere the first President of Tanzania. flickr his policy initiatives failed, they in its use and benefit from it.

In the policy, classes did not nonetheless rested on an ethical that was greatly determined by gested Tanzanians should live. exist.

In support of the African foundation and on the under- ones attitude to wealth.

If calamity befell one member of tradition once again, he voiced Though he did not categoristanding of challenges faced by the community, the burden was his doubt about whether the cally come out to say it, he is Tanzania. not solely shared but taken as a word ‘class’ existed in indigeNyerere’s concept of social- in many of his writings alludcalamity to all of them – be they nous African languages. This ing to the fact that wealth has ism which he called Ujamaa was rich or poor. This in a sense got based on equality, freedom just went to show how much and unity. These, he argued, …nobody starved, whether of food or human dignity, class was not an aspect of trawere nothing new to Africa as because he lacked personal wealth; he could depend on ditional African life, which he the African person, by mere the wealth that belonged to the community of which he glorified and romanticized. virtue of being an African, was a member. That was socialism. That is socialism.”

His society was not based was socialized and so, deeply

- Julius K. Nyerere on any class structure, neientrenched in these three as ther was it divided into rulers their daily living. This rosy kind a corrupting effect on people. rid of the class system, where the and ruled. The authority observed in his society is what is of picture was being threatened So against wealth was he that community was divided into the he did not vouch for public ofreferred to ‘first among equals’ by the Western impact, which rich and the poor or the have’s ficers gaining wealth while still – completely going against the he was overtly against. and the have-nots , a capitalistic concept of class.

The challenge for him then in office. And lest you be duped construct whose disgust for he into thinking he was preaching did not shy away from showbecame how to ensure that these ing. When asked what socialtraditional African values were water and drinking wine, he did Brotherly love ism was, he is quoted as saying, extended well into the modern not have a house of his own even Much as his concept brought “…nobody starved, whether of nation-state setting, and Uja- when he served as President. the people together in brotherly maa was the answer to this.

The house he lived in had been food or human dignity, because love and sincere concern for one

“

another’s welfare, it is not devoid of criticism, like any other concept known to man. Most loud of the criticisms of this concept is that it was pro-slow development as opposed to fast development and moving in tandem with the global current. This has been charged with the depth of economic crisis that the country plunged into in the 1970s.

Whether or not the Ujamaa concept was favourable or not for Tanzania can be looked at differently, depending on what side of the coin one chooses to look at. It can, however, not be demonized or completely swept under the rug because from it have stemmed the togetherness and brotherly love for one another that not many nations today can attest to.

Policing system September 21, 2013 is fresh in the minds of many a Kenyan and cannot be thought of without a shiver running down one’s spine.

It is the day that the Westgate Mall in the country’s upmarket Westlands area was attacked by Al-Shabaab militants who were protesting the presence of the KDF(Kenya Defense Force) in Somalia. The attack left in its wake, 67 dead, hundreds injured and suffering psychological trauma, loss of livelihoods and property worth billions of shillings. The perpetrators were said to have been in the country for a while and even had a shop in the very mall that was the object of their attack.

The fact that they could live among us and go unnoticed was what prompted Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to initiate the Nyumba Kumi concept. This is basically a model that borrows largely from the Ujamaa policy put in place by Nyerere. This system is meant to ensure that the policing system knows who is living where, who has visited the country and where they are staying. It calls upon people to not live in isolation but know who lives next to them. So popular is this concept that it has been adopted by Rwanda as well.

Much as the concept has worked Tanzania, skeptics in Kenya say it is a knee jerk reaction move that might not exactly be feasible in Kenya and that a lot of work needs to be put into its success.

Page 11

Gazette Fall 2013

FEATURES | LIFESTYLE | FINANCE

Guidelines on how to behave for a successful first date Being your true self and having fun are some of the recipe of having a successful date.

By Lydia Berigena

A

date is usually a time for two people to assess their compatibility. It is important because it can lead to a future relationship like marriage. So, messing up a date can lead to a life of solitude.

However, if you have a man or woman you want to ask out and you don’t want to completely mess it up here are some guidelines that could help.

First, before you ask someone out, have some idea of what the date will look like. Don’t just ask a person to go to the movies if you don’t know what’s playing, how you are getting there and that you are broke. Sometimes a date requires for you to make reservations, or buy tickets, or call a cab beforehand. Don’t forget to make sure that the person you are asking out knows exactly

By Pamphillian Ochieno

Personal finance is a critical subject in a student’s life mainly because more often it is scarce.

However, most of us go through schooling without learning how to manage our personal finance.

While our education systems train us to obtain good grades and ultimately acquire a good job, it does not empower us on how to spend our money once we get employed.

However, this should not be an excuse to being ignorant in financial management. Tips on how to manage finances are found literally everywhere.

Suzie Orman, in her book, Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny, contradicts and says that one has no choice other than have profound knowledge about money, in order to have a good relationship with it.

Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and the

where you are going and when. nervousness makes us do stupid Secondly, dress to impress. things, but avoid asking pathetic Do not show up on your date questions like, “this is going well looking like a bum. It is not sexy, right?”

It is also important to be it will impress no one. If you very attentive during a date. put effort into what you wear, your efforts will be recognized and noted by your date.

Thirdly, make sure you have money on you. Even if the person you have asked out assures you that they will pay, take money.

Never go on a date empty handed, it is not only unsafe but also foolish. A couple out on a date. flickr Presumably, the reason you Keep the conversation going. asked out a person is to see Nothing is more awkward than how they are. Speak as well as complete utter silence on a date. listen. Try to keep your phone If the conversation is not going out of sight. Show fascination, so smoothly ask questions, they are the best method of initiating be intrigued. Additionally, look conversation. Still, your quesfor signs in your date’s body lantions shouldn’t be too intimate guage; you can learn a lot about or personal. I know panic and them that way. This of course

means that you should check your body language as well.

Noteworthy also be yourself.

As much as you are trying to impress someone on your date, try to be honest. Be sure that you are portraying your true self.

Also be honest with yourself, if a place is too expensive for you don’t go. At the end of a date, the person should have an idea of who you are.

Don’t blindly push forth your expectations.

Go with an open mind, this will make your date go effortlessly. Moreover, a date is simply a date; don’t assume that it will lead to the bedroom or to a second date. You can hope but don’t push anything.

It is also prudent to be polite.

No matter how bad or good things are going, maintain your

motivates me when he says that saving stems from the fact that the man with surplus controls other hand speak in one voice; circumstances and the man made it a rule not to dip her hand delayed gratification, fiscal rewithout a surplus is controlled in the other envelopes. sponsibility, and knowing the by circumstances.

Learn as much as possible difference between what you The key to success is to set about banking and saving. want and what you truly need your targets high, and draft a Today, there are very many fiis the only way to financial sestrategy on how to reach there. nancial institutions which offer curity.

As the saying goes, the sky is different interests on deposits.

The next time your parent the limit. Make sure you reach It is always prudent to choose or guardian gives you money; your sky. a banker with whom you can you may want to set your priStart creating money while grow together. You can open orities right. still in school and As I had mendo not frown at tioned earlier, There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The debts. To some, we often fail to first is so basic I’m almost embarrassed to say not having debts denotes sound fidifferentiate it: spend less than you earn.” nancial managebetween our -Paul Clitheroe ment. However, needs and our the truth is, we need to take up wants. In the end we end up a student account with a bank treating our wants as needs and that you believe you can benefit credits in order to create wealth. vice-versa. Once we identify our from one another. Benjamin With sound financial manpriorities, then we can make a Franklin said that a penny saved agement, we can borrow money budget. A budget helps us keep is a penny earned. Or more so and invest in different projects. you can join a sacco even if you our expenditure under control.

This is because we all need to are a student and save as much plan a financial stress free life.

A friend of mine has a habit of as you can.

The replica effect of Finally, take care of your separating expenditure money health.

Take advantage of the in different envelopes and labelthis process is much bigger than school insurance scheme. Eat ing each envelope. This helps financial gains. There is an air healthy, avoid risky behaviors, her to spend within her budof contentment that comes with invest in your time and you will get. She also has an envelope having financial security; to me for miscellaneous expenses to this is success. be guaranteed success. It is said take care of the perpetual friends People will give you different that the person who knows the true meaning of life is the one emergencies. Once the miscelreasons as to why you need to lying on his death bed. laneous money is over, she has save. But for me, Henry Buckley

How to soundly manage personal finance Middle Class Do Not, argues that most of us acquire utility items mistakenly referring them as assets while in reality they are liabilities. He further explains that an asset is an item that brings in income. The new school of thought states that if you love money, it will love you back. And just like in our relationships, if you mistreat money, money will run away from you.

We all grew up being cautioned that money is a vice. So we shunned from it, until the new school of thought rescued us by challenging the ‘old school’ and said money bequeath you comfort.

Our personal goal is always to have enough money to spend, save and give. The secret is one.

Paul Clitheroe said, “there are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I’m almost embarrassed to say it: spend less than you earn.”

Financial experts on the

cool and be polite throughout the date. An overreaction on a date can shut the door to future dates. The person you have asked out can easily warn off other people about you. So you want to create a great impression so that even if the date doesn’t work out she or he has only good things to say about you.

Mind your safety. Danger lurks in anything, even in a cute face. Therefore, it is best to meet in a public place for your first date. It is also advisable to tell one or more people the name of the person, you are going out with. Take a picture with him or her and send it to someone you know. In addition, have money and a phone on you as well.

However, following these guidelines does not mean that your date will be a complete success; sometimes two people are just not meant to be. Nonetheless, following these guidelines should make your dating life more fun and safe. But never beat yourself up too much, live and learn.

“

Page 12

Gazette Fall 2013

ENTERTAINMENT | ART | FILM

University to premiere television drama series

By Georgette Adrianne

A

s I sat through the first meeting of Usoni listening to the creator of the series, I couldn’t help but feel the adrenaline rush that came with envisioning the production. Looking at the dedicated and eager colleagues who looked every bit ready to embark on the journey that is going to be the first of its kind in Africa leave alone Kenya.

Excitement was in the air, this was because we knew we were destined for greatness and honor bestowed upon us for daring to step out of the box.

Hope and prosperity Usoni which means future in Swahili is a concept born out of a film that is set to be produced next year. The story is based on a young couple who live in Europe where catastrophe is happening and in the midst of all this they

are expecting their first child.

The two met in France but do not want to raise their child in Europe but in Africa, the land of hope and prosperity, and a promise for a better tomorrow.

The creator of Usoni is French born Dr. Marc Rigaudis who has worked in film production around the world for close to 20 years. He started out as a photographer, then went on to becoming a writer before finally settling in film production and lecturing. He draws inspiration for his productions from fighting worldly injustices such as ones that portray Africa as a poverty stricken place. He says, “looking at past centuries and the way that Africa and black skinned people have been portrayed, has led to the birth of Usoni.”

Looking at people trying to cross the sea from Africa to Europe and some dying on the way only to get to Europe and

suffer again is disheartening” laments Dr. Rigaudis.

Dr. Rigaudis wonders why people thought life was better in Europe when in fact Africa is the richer continent. It is with regard to this that his mind set to work and decided to create a film that would bring out the best of Africa. The film is not about the catastrophes that happen in Europe but rather the consequences of the calamities such as death, illnesses from toxins in the air, insecurity, and hunger among others.

The series is purely a science fiction because it is set 50 years from now but it talks about the current issues in the world.“I like to take actual facts of life and put them in fiction to make people aware of what is happening or what has happened” says Dr. Rigaudis. His vision to bring Usoni to life was welcomed by the United States International

University Vice chancellor Professor Frieda Brown and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Professor Matthew Buyu who have decided to encourage the program in the university. In order to boost the program, Dr. Rigaudis felt the need to recruit the university’s own students to take part in all aspects of the production, so that they can fulfill their internship hours and showcase their talents. It is through this initiative that a crew of 23 journalism students came together to produce the series.

Up’s and downs Everyone knows that in any production it will always have its up’s and downs and Usoni was no exception to this. Along the way there were minor and major challenges one of them being financial. However, the school did lend a hand when it came to

going to Mombasa where some of the scenes were shot. As a crew, we had to come together and raise some funds to cover our meals which only brought the team closer. Another major challenge was the malfunction of personal equipment which set the crew back in terms of taking more time on set.

Furthermore, some of the scenes had to be rewritten since it was not easy to get props and locations that were needed. But at the end of the day, Denver Ochieng, the producer a journalism student agree that any challenge in production can be frustrating and time consuming but it will be all worth it when the boundaries of African productions are broken.

“Our audience should expect something and hope they are able to see through our ideas and love it,” added Cherie Lindiwe, the director.

Journalism club holds inaugural photography contest

BY OTIENO TEDDY EUGENE

They say photography is an art of the heart, created by the mind and focused by the lens. This art has long been used in the contemporary world to show various perspectives of the human epic, an indication that the art not only lives with us, but plays a major role in narrating and showcasing events.

judging taking place at the radio classroom in the Lillian K. Beam building. More than 40 photo entries were made, giving the judges and lovers of photogra-

of votes their photos receive.

With an impressively turn up of over 2000 students, USIU students showed their love for photography and thereafter vot-

ner up, Beata Swabir and second runners up Cleopas Kavita. They proved to be the best by winning hearts of many admirers, with many expressing their love for

Recognize talent

Promote the art For this particular reason, on the 12th and 13th of November, USIU Journalism Club sought to promote the art of photography in and around campus and as well call for its appreciation by all and sundry. Taking an open and accommodative theme as its lead championing tool for the practice of photography, the club organized a photo exhibition competition at the Student Affairs Council square, where calls for submission were made.

The event ran for two consecutive days, with the final

walk away with great prizes.

By the end of it all, it actually emerged that those students who are not necessarily journalism majors are equally good photographers if the magnificent display was anything to go by. It is therefore evident that indeed, photography does not choose; it is the chosen way of life!

Students view some of the photographs on display during the exhibition. usiu.ac.ke

phy in attendance a hard time to choose their best photo. In a rare spectacle, winners were to be picked based on the number

ing in the first, second and third best photographs. Thandiwe Muriu emerged the winner of the event followed by first run-

the less edited photos- a hint for those willing to participate in the next photography expo.

The colorful event saw winners

According to the chair person, Georgette Adrianne, “the event was organized to recognize talent from all the other schools of learning with USIU such as School of Business, International Relations, School of Humanities and School of Science and Technology.” She added that “the event was a success and they plan to host similar event every semester.”

As you can note the journalism students are applying their class knowledge into practice. Next semester, they plan to host the event but this time, it will be bigger and better.

Page 13

Gazette Fall 2013

TECHNOLOGY | GAMES | ENVIRONMENT

GTA V video game rakes in billions in initial sale

sand shillings.

The sudden spike in the video game industry pre 4th generation consoles was spurred on by the

and beaches.

The game takes place in the present day (2012-13).

Many cities and districts in Los

...the video game industry sales rose to $3.45 billion (a fifth of Kenya’s national budget for 2013/2014) ...

A poster advertising the very interactive Grand Theft Auto Five (GTA-V). Istock

By Lebohang Thuo

T

ake-Two Interactive announces that Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA V) grossed $1 billion worldwide in its first three days on sale.

According to the US firm Games Market Dynamics Q3 2013 report, the video game industry sales rose to $3.45 billion (a fifth of Kenya’s national budget for 2013/2014) in the first quarter. This figure is up 17 percent year-over-year.

The gain was the biggest since the second quarter of 2011, the company said. Looking ahead, analysts say the PS4 and Xbox

One should continue to entice an increase in sales leading up to the holiday shopping season.

The PS4 was released on Nov 16, 2013, while the Xbox One went on sale a week after.

Price tag Both these consoles will be available locally staring December 1st in Toy World and Game Zone (both located at the Thika Road Mall) – although, the two retail chains were non-committal on cost, expect a price tag of 40 thousand shillings and the games ranging from 10 thou-

release of usual barrage of franchise titles FiFA 14, Assassins Creed: Black Flag, Battle Field 4, call of duty: Ghosts, and GTA-V. The opening week sales of Grand Theft Auto V in the UK were higher than the first week sales of FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Pokemon X, Pokemon Y, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Batman: Arkham Origins, combined.

So what is GTA V all about?

The game focuses on the American Dream – from a criminal’s perspective- in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California.

There are multiple endings to the story. These depend on the decisions you make throughout the game. The game is set in Los Santos (Rock star’s take on Los Angeles, California) and surrounding hills, countryside

Angeles County have been recreated in GTAV. These include, but are not limited to: Hollywood (Vinewood), Downtown Los Angeles (Downtown Los Santos), Korea town (Little Seoul), Venice (Vespucci) and Santa Monica.

For the first time in the series, the GTAV map is open from the beginning, with the exception of some protected areas. The setting includes a fully exportable ocean floor. GTAV protagonists play as three different characters.

Playable characters The game features three playable characters: Michael, Trevor and Franklin. You can switch between them at any time offmission, and at certain points during missions. The idea is to expose the player to as much

action as possible.

Michael, voiced by actor Ned Luke, is a highly successful bank robber who retired and went into FIB witness protection with a sweet deal. He and his wife Amanda have a rocky relationship and kids Tracey and Jimmy are not understandable anymore. He is friends with Trevor. His real last name is Townley.

Motivations and skillset Trevor is a crazy, drug abusing ex-military pilot who lives in a trailer out in the desert. He is friends with Michael and used to rob banks with him.

Franklin is the youngest of the three protagonists. He works for Simeon Yetarian, an Armenian luxury car dealer, and does repossession when customers can’t pay. He hangs out with crazy, immature friends but running into Michael shows him another way to live.

Each main character has his own personality, motivations and skillset. When you’re not controlling them, their lives continue and you may be surprised to see what situations they find themselves in when you switch back (especially Trevor).

Man’s activities turning Earth into a barren planet

By Grace Thendi

Man has been known to be the most intelligent over other creatures, boasting attributes such as empathy, ability to reason, mourning and rituals amongst many others. Man is therefore charged with the responsibility of protecting and conserving the environment.

Self-inflicted scourge However, his abhorrent actions on the environment read from a different script. Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, for instance, have gradually lost significant amounts of snow cover and are therefore not as attractive and breathtaking as they were before this self-inflicted scourge hit us.

This has been caused by the high emissions of carbon dioxide into the air due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline.

The problem is further compounded by deforestation of sur-

rounding and other forests. The wanton and villainous cutting of the same trees that attract rainfall and also absorb this carbon dioxide that we emit does not help the dire situation.

This is done in order to pave way for agriculture but one should pose the cardinal question, “where will the rain for my crops come from without these trees?”

Survey

over 3 million people, being one of the hardest hit. The Aberdares are a catchment area for Sasumua and Ndakaini dams whose

We are now experiencing warmer weather which sometimes shoots up to sweltering and very high temperatures due to difference in airflow.

Phenomena such as the 2003 European heat wave which killed over 70,000 people, the recent Russian heat wave,the 2011 drought experienced in America are all attributed to global warming.

practice, which is mainly rainfed, is affected due to loss of crop during growing season as rains fail.

We have all participated in littering in more than one way or another, one common and flagrant way being littering from moving vehicles as I once horridly witnessed a woman throw out a soiled diaper from a slow moving car.

The solutions are obviously

...Kenya now has approximately only about seven per cent forest cover...

-Kenya Forestry Service

Kenya now has approximately only about 7 percent forest cover according to a remote sensIn Kenya the rainy seasons ing survey recently done are delayed and droughts by the Kenya Forestry Serare experienced especially vice. This has gravely comin arid and semi-arid arpromised our water towers eas. Downpours are in turn which are Mt. Kenya, Mt. heavy and short-lived, Elgon, Aberdare Ranges, therefore, causing flash Man’s activities on the environment are turning once floods that lead to death Mau Complex forests and fertile lands into deserts. fotosearch and loss of property.

Cherangany Hills.

Food security has been More severe water shortcompromised in Kenya which ages have been experienced water capacities have been seen is primarily an agricultural country wide with the capital city to decrease to as low as 30% in country.

This means that the recent times. of Nairobi,with a population of

simple. For example, keeping waste in the vehicle until one can dispose it off correctly, separating plastic and toxic waste from the rest and burning it correctly and separately.

If all of us did the right thing to save our wonderful planet, then we would undoubtedly be giving future generations the chance to optimally enjoy flora and fauna that we once had the chance to savor.

Gazette Fall 2013

Page 14

GLOBAL | NEWS | UPDATES

The world bids farewell to Mandela W

orld leaders, from US President Barack Obama to Cuba’s Raul Castro, paid homage to Nelson Mandela at a mass memorial in South Africa that recalled his gift for bringing enemies together across political and racial divides.

Obama shook the hand of Castro at the memorial, an unprecedented gesture between the leaders of two nations which have been at loggerheads for more than half a century.

Castro was also among the designated orators at a Johannesburg football stadium where 23 years earlier Mandela - freshly freed from apartheid jail - was hailed by cheering supporters as the hope for a new South Africa.

Mandela’s memorial service was evidence of his legacy of bringing people together from all walks of life; race, political belief, and religion.

Conspicuous

Great liberator In his address, Obama said Mandela earned his place in history through struggle, shrewdness, persistence and faith, comparing him to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.

Obama urged the world to act on Mandela’s legacy by fighting inequality, poverty and racism.

Obama called Mandela the last great liberator of the 20th century, and said he thought

Police had promised tight security, and were patrolling a wide perimeter around the stadium.

Even so, the first crowds entered the stadium without being searched.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair were both there. Blair had called Mugabe “a dictator who should have been removed from power.”

Mugabe on his part had called Blair an imperialist and once told him to “go to hell”. Such antagonisms were put on mute on the day of the memorial.

US president Barrack Obama talkig during the former South African Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. Tastemakermag.com

about how to apply Mandela’s lessons to himself as a man and as president.

All the speakers selected were leaders and statesmen from countries that had previously been under colonialist rule.

Coinciding with UN designated Human Rights Day, the memorial service for Mandela

in the 95,000-seat Soccer City stadium was the centerpiece of a week of mourning for the globally-admired statesman.

A light rain fell on the day of the memorial as thousands of mourners gathered at the stadium in Soweto, but this didn’t stop the singing by joyous crowds in the stands.

“What he did in life, that’s what he’s doing in death, he’s bringing people together from all walks of life, from the different sides of opinion, political belief, religion,” Zelda la Grange, Mandela’s former personal assistant, was quoted as saying.

Israel’s top leaders were conspicuous by their absence at the memorial, skipping the ceremony for the anti-apartheid hero whom Palestinians had always viewed as their comrade in the struggle for freedom.

- Al-Jazeera

In Mandela’s own words...

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and GOT BACK UP again.”

“It is what we make out of WHAT WE HAVE, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way “The greatest glory in “After climbing a great that respects and enhances the living lies in never falling hill, one only finds there FREEDOM of others.” but RISING everytime are MANY MORE hills we fall.”

“It always seems to climb.” impossible until ITS DONE!” “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways YOU YOURSELF have altered.”

NELSON 1918 - 2013

BRIEFLY VATICAN: Pope named TIME person of the year

Time magazine named Pope Francis ‘Person of the year 2013’ in the awards designed to represent the most influential person of the year whether good or bad.

Time managing editor Nancy Gibbs said that in less than a year Pope Francis “has not changed the words, but he’s changed the music”.

Listing a series of symbolic gestures - from the use of a simple iron cross around his neck to the release of information on controversial Vatican finances for the first time, Gibbs highlights the Pope’s focus on compassion as well as an aura of merriment that makes him “something of a rock star”.

JUBA: South Sudan’s crisis worsens On December 15, an armed confrontation erupted at the centre of the South Sudanese governmental authority, the presidential palace in Juba - a confrontation between army officers loyal to President Salva Kiir and disgruntled soldiers backing his ex-deputy Riek Machar that has now begun to deteriorate into a civil war.

The African Union (AU) and IGAD refered to the situation as a ‘crisis’. However, Kiir alleges that it constituted an attempted coup, claims that the fugitive former Vice President Riek Machar has refuted.

The president then arrested several former ministers and officials of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) - who were dismissed in July - in his cabinet, including Machar resulting in ethnic cleansing between the tribes of the two leaders.

Page 15

Gazette Fall 2013

GAZETTE SPORTS

African teams ready to conquer Rio 2014

By Kevin Kiritu

G

hana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Algeria will fly the African flag in the 2014 Soccer World Cup at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

In what promises to be an even bigger event than the 2010 edition, African teams are expected to excel as the climatic conditions in Latin America mirror those of the African continent. Africa has never gotten beyond the quarter finals of the global spectacle. Cameroon, The indomitable Lions gave a good showing in the 1990 edition in Italy.

African pedigree Roger Milla, Makanaky and the Biyik brothers were part of the team that stunned the world by defeating a fancied Argentina with the mercurial Diego Maradonna, Claudio Caniggia in the preliminary matches but were knocked out by England in the quarters of the 1990 edition. In the 2002 edition, Senegal were a revelation, beating colonial masters France.

With a galaxy of players now plying their trade in Europe, African pedigree in the beautiful game has definitely blossomed.

That does not mean that local talent has been resting on their laurels. Nigeria, the current African champions won the Africa Cup of Nations with a team comprising largely of homegrown

By Derrick Ntege

USIU continued to show cultural diversity by hosting the first ever World Cup. The event did not pay specific attention to the FIFA rules as there were no off-sides or the required eleven starting players on the pitch.

Common language It was an event organized to bring a number of different cultures and countries together through one common language, sport.

Twelve teams participated each with ten registered players but only seven could start the game. Somalia, the underdogs

talent, signifying growth and maturity among local players.

Having hosted the tournament in South Africa in 2010 for the first time, the continent feels that the time is ripe for another first, a win in the global tournament. West and North Africa, the perennial powerhouses of African football once again provide the contingent to the games.

Nigeria, the African champions will be hoping to carry the momentum to Rio. Coached by former Captain Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles possess a commendable blend of foreign based and local players. Chelsea trio of the rugged midfielder John Obi Mikel, the nimble footed winger Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo are expectedto do well for the Super Eagles who crashed out in the group stages in 2010.

Cameroon can count on Samuel Eto’o, a four time African Footballer of the Year to lead them in the tournament.

The predatory striker has rescinded a decision to retire from international football and will hope to emulate his childhood idol Roger Milla who played in the World Cup event at the age of 38.

With the likes of Alex Song of Barcelona and Sebastian

West and North African nations once again to represent the continent in the World Cup.

Ivory coast’s international Yaya Toure. Reuters

Bassong of Norwich City are the other big stars in the Camerron squad. The Indomitable Lions are renowned for their physical style of football which may cause many an upset in the tournament.

Ivory Coast, The Elephants, also bring their unique arsenal to the World Cup. With the likes of Captain Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho, Manchester City midfield maestro Yaya Toure and his brother Kolo, The Elephants are a plucky side who on any given day can upset the best of the best.

The Black Stars of Ghana are the third West African

Somalia lifts first World Cup lifted the cup after edging out the Pharaohs from Egypt with a narrow 1-0 win after a late first half goal from a Saed Dexter slotting past the Egyptian goalkeeper.

The Egyptians pushed on for an equalizer but it was not going to be their day.

En route to the final, the Somalis had to see off a very physical Nigerian side. Abdi Hamid ‘’Mido’’ neatly put the ball past the oncoming Nigerian keeper.

Star midfielder Travis had the

chance to equalize for the West Africans just before half time but he blazed his free kick over the bar.

In the second semifinal, the Egyptians saw off East Africa’s remaini n g representatives Tanzania in a close penalty shoot -out that went into sudden death. Abdi sent the keeper the wrong way to book Egypt a place in the final. East Africa had three representatives at the tourna-

team in the African contingent.

A continental powerhouse in football, Ghana has over the years churned out legendary footballers, the likes of Abedi Ayew Pele, Tony Yeboah and Nii Odartey Lamptey; however they have not fared well in the global tournament. That rich reservoir of footballing talent has not dwindled; the current squad boasts a lethal mix of youth and experience.

Captained by the tenacious Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng in midfield, feeding an attacking line comprising of the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan and the flamboyant Gyan Asamoah, the Ghanaians feel it is time to step up on the global stage. They affirmed this notion with a 6-1 mauling of continental giants Egypt on their way to qualifying for the 2014 soccer extravaganza in Rio.

Footballing giants Algeria are the continents ‘dark horses’ and the only North African representative in Rio. They upset the form book which predicted other North African footballing giants like Egypt and Tunisia to qualify.

To take nothing from their achievements, the ‘Fenec Foxes’ overcame a gritty Burkina Faso to book a place in Rio. This will be the fourth time they have qualified for the event, their first being 1982.

ment with Kenya and Uganda crushing out at the group stage.

Tanzania came home with the bronze medal after beating Nigeria in the third place play- off game.

“We were unlucky to concede that own goal from Ahmed against a good Nigerian side, otherwise I feel we played well,” Jack Njanji said with a miserable look on his face when he found out that France will not be in the semi- finals.

The French captain had predicted that his side will go all the way and lift the cup.

USIU’s Nabil Omar, the chief organizer of the event promises an annual World Cup and a chance for Somalia to defend the prestigious crown.

Page 16

Gazette Fall 2013

GAZETTE SPORTS African teams ready to roar in Rio de Janeiro

<< INSIDE >>

Flames lifts the ZUBL national title The consistent ladies basketball team continue with the impressive winning streak, bagging yet another trophy

Somalia wins first USIU World Cup

SPORTS ROUND-UP Softball

Ladies softball team emerge victorious during championship USIU ladies Softball team on October 12 participated in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Sports Day Softball Championships where they emerged the winners clinching the JKUAT Sports Day Softball Champi-

ons trophy.

Other teams that participated in the championships included USIU men’s softball, soccer and volleyball teams and the ladies’ volleyball team whose players played their hearts out but failed to win any games.

Rugby

Above Left, ZUKU CEO, Richard Bell presents the winning trophy to USIU Captain Zipporah Odhiambo at the award ceremony of the Zuku University Basketball League finals and right, USIU’s Hilda Indasi challanges a Maseno University player for the ball. usiu.ac.ke

Rugby team dismantles Mount Kenya University

By Gazette Team

T

he USIU Flames continued with their winning streak from where they left off last season having radiated in the 2013 FIBA Africa Zone 5 club championships in Burundi coming second place in the region to emerge out victorious during the recently held Zuku University Basketball League (ZUBL).

fizzled out . They dominated the game from the start, crushing the board on both sides of the court as they capitalCash price in KShs won by USIU Flames ized mainly on the offensive rebounds in the ZUBL tournament where they picked up most of their points. By the end of the game, the flames had devoured the Maseno teams to miserably 38 points.

Captain Zipporah Odhiambo had Points by Hilda Indasi making her 21 points added by the stellar Hilda the season’s top scorer Indasi who had 16 points, enough to Retained title make her seasons top scorer. Cynthia The USIU ladies basketball team convincingly Irakunza was crowned as the season’s most valudefended and retained their Zuku University able player had 14 points.

Basketball league title after mercilessy scorching Maseno University 83-38 at the finals played in the Cash price Moi International Sports Center gymnasium.

The Flames were awarded a cash price of ksh They beat the University of Nairobi terrorists 65- 150,000 by the Zuku CEO, Richard Bell. “Thumbs 34 at the Nyayo National Stadium to qualify for up for our basketall team,” said Ritah Asunda, the the title game against Maseno University.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Students Affairs.

USIU flames are here to stay as they endeavor to keep fanning and fueling the winning streak Offensive rebounds in the quest for more titles.

The flames started the games red hot and never

150,000 16

With 9 tries and 2 conversions, the rugby story was emphatically told when USIU overwhelmed Mount

Kenya University 49-0 during their league match played on the USIU grounds this semester.

Karate

USIU Karate teams shine in commemoration tournament

USIU Tigers triump at the ZUBL champs The Tigers have made it official, whipping the Technical University of Kenya 71-43 at the ZUBL Nairobi Conference finals.

The Tigers joined the Flames as the new Nairobi Conference Champions at Nyayo National Stadium on October 4, booking their ticket to the National Finals on October 11-12 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

USIU students Hilda Indasi and Alvin Nyagweso after being crowned the Most Valuable Players in their respective categories during the Zuku Universities Basketball League (ZUBL) Nairobi Conference finals on October 4. usiu.ac.ke

USIU’s Karate teams, Kumite and Kata shone October 12 in a tournament commemorating the Goju Ryu Founder -Chojun Miyagi emerging first in their respective categories.

Chojun Miyagi was a Japanese martial artist who founded the Goju-Ryu School of Karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese

influences.

Kumite is a tactic where the defender steps back each time, blocking the attacks and performing a counterattack after the last block from his opponent while Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs.