Maseno University hand in mater heart run

Mater hospital held their 8th Mater Heart Run event at Mumias Sports Complex on Saturday 25^th May raising 3.09M in which Maseno University contributed kshs 45,800.

Maseno University was represented by the school of medicine students, Public Relations, Maseno University Media Association (MUMA). Other participants were St. Mary’s Girls Mumias, Booker Academy and Mumias Central primary school.

The chief guest was Rt.Rev Beniah Salala Anglican bishop ACK Vihiga County who stood in for the Kakamega county governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Among those who graced the occasions were the Vihiga county director medical services Dr.James Onyango, District Officer Paul Langat, Ruftone among other music artists. 

Millions flock every year in support of children with heart diseases:
File photo

Rt. Rev Beniah Salala thanked the participants for their willing support and urged the community to embrace the need to help out heart patients. The participants were issued with certificates of participation.

“It is my prayer that we will continue with this spirit even to our neighbors”, he concluded.  Six Maseno university students managed to be among the top tens who finished the race ahead of others.

Speaking to Maseno fraternity, the gospel artist known by many as Ruftone appreciated their presence as the only university which took part in the run. In addition, he promised to undertake his future plans of studying Business Management in the mention university.

‘I am planning for a comeback to school for a degree in business management and I know Maseno will be best for me’ he added.

The main sponsors for the event were Capital FM, Safaricom, National Security Social Fund (NSSF) and The Standard. Mater heart run is an organized annual race for the solid purpose of raising funds to support the surgery of heart patients mostly the children with the motto ‘I touched a child’s heart ’.

By Ruth Nderitu

Pregnancy crisis in campus

Pregnancy in campus

Relationships in campus are most often a state of bliss until something unexpected happens, a case in point being, when a lady becomes pregnant. It’s no lady’s wish to get pregnant before she’s done with her studies unless she is ready for it.

However, as recently witnessed, many ladies are falling victims of this. What follows are the numerous challenges that one encounters while juggling between being a mother and a student.

In an interview with students’ counselor, Rispa Ochola, she revealed the pain and anguish a girl goes through on becoming expectant. However, she insisted that men should also take responsibility.

“Men who plant “seeds” should take care of them.” she added.

Equator Weekly managed to speak with students who are mothers.

Speaking to Jane* name changed, she revealed her pain during her time of pregnancy and even after giving birth. She said that at first the boyfriend denied the pregnancy and called her names.

“He called me unfaithful and I can remember how much I cried for all my love was his”.

Moreover, the man was not supportive in terms of the company I needed during the trying times and also during delivery.

“This is the time when I needed someone closer than ever and he wasn’t even concerned”.

The lady recalls that till today, she is bitter with the man when she remembers the time they spent together. Jane however regrets the day she said ‘yes’ to the boyfriend and added that for now she does not have the heart to trust another man anytime soon.

In another scenario, a lady who sought anonymity said that she was dumped the minute the man realized she was pregnant. She bitterly remembered of how the man started cutting ties and reducing the time they used to spend together.

The same happened to Patience* name changed, whose friends started drawing away from her as soon as they realized she was expectant. The painful part was when she lost her male friends as many of them feared to be mistaken to have sired the child.

Attendance of lessons is also a major challenge and they sometimes end up getting low grades as they can’t concentrate on their studies.

Pregnant lady: Many university ladies face  a  headache  after  a pregnancy  crisis.

A lady is also not entitled to get a hostel upon getting pregnant, these among other social challenges of walking to lecture halls when the morning sickness is prevailing, are quite a challenge

The school is also partially supportive and only gives pre-natal medication and checkup. However upon arrival of the newborn, the support from the university diminishes.

According to statistics gathered from the health clinic, 10% of the students are married and hence pregnancy is expected, 60% is out of ignorance and the rest is accidental.

In an interview with Rispa the Counselling department is looking at ways in which they can help student-mothers. This is by registering them in a support group which will be a platform for sharing their challenges, a plan which is underway this semester.

Moreover, she labeled them ‘star-students’ as they take on double responsibilities.

 By Miriam Nyamira, Moreen Nkonge and Benson Gitau

The first ever class representatives workshop

The first ever class representatives workshop

Maseno university class representatives had an opportunity to lick knowledge in a workshop organized by the Counseling department in conjunction with the office of the Students welfare services, SWS.

The event which was held in Trinity Fellowship on 20^th June was graced by the university counselors, the director of SWS with his personal assistance and the university legal officer.

Speaking to the over 60 student leaders, Rispah Ochola, one of the university counselors, said this was the first ever event for the class representatives and was focused on polishing leadership skills.

“This is an event organized to help open a platform to grow leadership in students”, said Rispah.

The student leaders took solomonic tips home in various topics ranging from law and class leadership, university structure and leaders, time management, exam and academics and conflict management.

The topics were merged to cultivate team spirit, enhance leadership capabilities and implore skills relevant to achieving efficiency in class leadership.

On time management, counselor Lucy Ngutiku advised the student leaders using a 10 commandment rule where she gave the mistakes people make when managing their time.

Some of the mistakes outlined were failure to keep a-to-do list, not setting personal goals, procrastination, failure to prioritize and management of distractions among others.

“It is interesting that some students use the shtuka method and do not plan”, said counselor Lucy a word that cracked the ribs of many.

Elizabeth Ayoo the university legal officer tackled a topic on law and leadership revealing the upcoming Congress in the student leadership system which will act as a Student organization Maseno University, SOMU watchdog.

Ms. Ayoo said that the Congress will be composed of a representative from SDA, CU, YCA and any other religious group, two representatives from each faculty and residential halls representative.

The Legal officer also stressed that the government had adopted a policy where university admission will not be pegged to the number halls of residence. This was in response to why the university was admitting a high number of first years on September.

“The university is expected by the government to have a population of 17,000 students in 2017”, said Erick Nyambetha the director SWS during his speech. He also added that the population had doubled within the two years he had been serving in the office.

Counselor Rispah covered a topic on Conflict management and advised students against locking hatred in their hearts but instead find a solution in a peaceful way. She also appreciated that conflicts are natural as they occur due to the diversity and different tastes people have in life.

By Benson Gitau
bensongitau9@gmail.com

Benson Gitau, Equator News reporter