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  • Falcons win derby against City

    By Muhanguzi Tola

    tolakofa1@gmail.com

    Falcons side celebrate scoring a goal in league match.

    A goal in each half earned Daystar falcons a coveted win against arch rivals Daystar City in a friendly derby played yesterday at the Bethel grounds in Athi River.

    The rejuvenated falcons’ side recorded back to back wins for the first time since the start of the new season, following their FKF triumph over UNOA Sports on Sunday.

    The game that ended 2-1 saw captain Barrack Khaseke continue with his excellent form, netting a second half goal after coming in as a substitute in the first half. The goal is his third in a span of 5 days, having netted a brace during the win against UNOA sports.

    Team manager Walter Nalwa has assured Falcon’s fans of a win come Saturday, when the team plays its second FKF match.

    “The Athi River team has numbers, and the players have the necessary skills. If we could have more playing time, we’d have scored more goals but we won, and are expecting to win a league match tomorrow,” stated Walter.

    He further urged fans to show up in large numbers for the FKF match to be played at 3pm at the Bethel grounds on Saturday.

    “…everyone who is on campus kindly avail yourselves and cheer your team. We win, Daystar wins,” continued the manager.

    The team will be hoping for the return of forward Gian Gaile, who was sidelined with a groin injury picked up in Sunday’s league game.

    Daystar City’s consolation goal was scored in the second half by former Falcon’s full-back Phegan Indeche, netting a superb goal following a defensive error. Sitting bottom of the KUSA rankings, the team’s poor run of form progresses, as they continue the search for their first victory of the season.

  • Professor Wangari Maathai: A Legend, an Icon

    Professor Wangari Maathai: A Legend, an Icon

    In honor of Black History Month (February), the Involvement Newspaper will be featuring African leaders, heroes, and activists in a bid to remember their contributions towards a better Africa.

    By: Nicholas Kweyu (nicholaskweyu99@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail photo courtesy of potentash.com

    Professor Wangari Muta Maathai was born on April 1st 1940 in Nyeri. She went to Loreto High School and graduated in 1959. On a scholarship scheme known as the “Kennedy Airlift”, she went on to study biological sciences at the Benedictine College in Kansas. Following this, she got a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburg. Upon her return to a newly independent Kenya, she earned her PhD in 1971 from the University of Nairobi becoming the first woman in East and Central Africa to attain a doctorate. She died in 2011 at the age of 71 following a long struggle with ovarian cancer.

    The famous activist was involved in humanitarian and environmental groups such as the National Council of Women of Kenya which she joined in 1976. Here, she interacted with rural women who lamented on the social and environmental conditions affecting poorer Kenyans. She developed a community-based tree planting scheme that grew into the Green Belt Movement (GBM) in 1977. This movement has facilitated the planting of more than 51 million trees in Kenya. The GBM also works towards poverty reduction as it trains women in skills such as beekeeping and forestry; the preservation of land is therefore accompanied by a source of income. The movement’s activism spurred similar initiatives in other African countries including Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

    Another of the professor’s contributions to environmental conservation was her adamant resistance to government plans to erect a 62-story skyscraper in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park in the 1980s. This saw her get beaten, tear-gassed and thrown into then-President Daniel Arap Moi’s notorious underground cells.
    “Every person who has ever achieved anything has been knocked down many times. But all of them picked themselves up and kept going, and that is what I have always tried to do,” she once said.

    Wangari Maathai protesting against a skyscrapper being built in Uhuru park. Photo courtesy of fatumavoice.org

    This was only one of several instances of the humanitarian’s challenging of President Moi. She was among those who championed a multi-party system and democracy in the backdrop of Moi’s dictatorial rule. She also, at the risk of her life, consistently spoke out about human rights injustices perpetrated by Moi’s government; with the help of Bishop Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki, she even disguised herself during a government crackdown on human rights activists to deliver a speech on the injustices of the Rift Valley conflicts in the 1990s. Wangari Maathai also participated in a hunger strike to pressure the government to release political prisoners.

    Her tremendous efforts resulted in her being the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” Later in 2009, she was named the United Nations Messenger of Peace in recognition of her deep commitment to the environment.

    To this day, we celebrate Wangari Maathai Day- renamed from Africa Environment day in 2012- every 3rd of March which focuses on celebrating Wangari Maathai’s commitment to environmental responsibility, peace and justice.

  • Yaa Asantewaa: The Warrior Queen

    Yaa Asantewaa: The Warrior Queen

    In honor of Black History Month, the Involvement Newspaper will be featuring African leaders, heroes, and activists in a bid to remember their contributions towards a better Africa.

    By: Sharon Jerotich (jerotichsharon096@gmail.com)

    Photo courtesy of breathlist.com

    The year is 1840 and the subject of awe is Nana Yaa Asantewaa. She was born in the Asante Kingdom which is modern-day Ghana. She was Asona royalty from the Besease clan in Central Ghana and was of the Edweso stool clan. Sister to Kwasi Afrane- Ruler of the Edweso and wife to Owusu Kabwena- the seventh King of Asante. She was later bestowed upon the honour of queen mother by her brother, Kwasi Afrane.

    Yaa was not just royalty because of her bloodline. The way she led her life supported her royalty status. It is recorded that even as she was growing up, she was interested in local administration. Yaa’s rise to power started with the arrest of the king, the queen-mother, and almost every other leader of the Asante Kingdom. She was forced to act as regent on behalf of the queen mother. She attended meetings and represented her people, the Edweso. This she did with bravery.

    It is recorded that she once uttered these words, “If you, men of Asante will not go forward, then we will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight until the last of us falls on the battlefield.” This came after the chiefs in the Asante Kingdom had begun to lose hope in their fight for the golden stool (a symbol of unity in the Asante Kingdom). With these words, she gave the chiefs the will to fight once again.

    For her heroism and leadership, Yaa Asanetwaa paid the price. She was banished to Seychelles where she lived as a prisoner until she died in 1921. However, to this day she is remembered not only in Ghana but in the rest of the world as someone who fought to preserve the freedom of the Asante people. She also inspired subsequent nationalist movements among Ghana and the rest of the Gold Coast which led to the freedom of Ghana in 1957, the first country in sub- Saharan Africa to attain independence.

    The emancipation of Ghana instigated a series of nationalist movements in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon all of which attained independence by the year 1960.

    Aside from her political contributions, Yaa Asanetwaa has been a subject of inspiration for many African Feminist Movements. She was mother, guardian to her grandchild, farmer and took up leadership roles upon the passing of her brother and imprisonment of her grandchild- Kofi Tene.

  • Feminism is Empowering Women, not Threatening Men

    By Neema Oloo

    (oloojneema@gmail.com)

    Drawing of women from different races to emphasize variety – Listuguj

    International Women’s Day is a celebration that occurs annually on March 8, to honour the struggles of women worldwide, appreciating their political, social and cultural achievements.

    Women all over the world have fought to conquer the odds to be great and this is seen from the likes of Kamala Harris, Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chimamanda Ngozi.

    Powerful women also include our sisters, aunties, colleagues, daughters and wives who wake up everyday to take care of us.

    This year, in honor of our wonderful women, I urge us all to be feminists. Feminism is the belief and advocacy of political, economic and equality of the sexes through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

    Chimamanda Ngozi, a Nigerian writer, was once asked, “Why a feminist? Why not just a believer in human rights?” and she responded,  “Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general, but to choose the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender.”

    Drawing of women from different races putting their hands together to symbolize unity – Envoys

    Addressing the issue of gender is often avoided and uncomfortable but is a discussion we need to have more often.

    Feminism should not threaten men because empowerment of women has nothing to do with the men being inferior or losing their ground. It is about providing fair ground for both sexes.

    Women should be judged by what they bring to the table and not on the basis of being a woman. Just like Chimamanda Ngozi advocates, “If we criticize X in a woman and fail to criticize X in men, then you do not have a problem with X, you have a problem with women.”

    Everyone’s goal should be to ensure that the word feminism is no longer needed. That there will be equality and equity for the woman regardless of whatever door she walks through.

    Let us love and care for our women. Let us fight for them as hard as they fight to nurture and care for us. Happy international Women’s Day, be a feminist!

  • What it Takes to Run for Student Council in Daystar

    by Sumaya Hussein

    (husseinsumaya1@gmail.com)

    Photo Courtesy of Alignment.org

    Elections for the Daystar University Student Association (DUSA) are around the corner and nominations are currently ongoing.

    The student body consists of two organs; the student council and the University congress. This article elaborates on what makes a student eligible to run for the council in accordance to the final DUSA Constitution of 2019 that includes the recent amendments.

    According to the constitution, the student council is made up of the chairperson of the association, vice chair and secretary – academic affairs, general secretary, treasurer, campus secretaries and the ISADU (International Students Association of Daystar University) chairperson and minority representatives.

    Firstly, to run for any of the mentioned positions, one must be a mature “born-again Christian” who demonstrates leadership and integrity. This means that students from other religions that are not Christian, specifically “born again”, cannot run for council.

    Secondly, any interested student who has ever been to the disciplinary committee shouldn’t bother vying for a seat. This is because the rules require the student to have a “good standing in the community” and not have broken any university rules.

    It is also stated that the students should have the recommendation of the Chaplain to ensure the they meet the constitutional requirement concerning the code of conduct.

    The constitution further requires any student intending to vie to have completed at least one academic year and show reasonable proof that they will be available to serve during their term in office. Alternatively, they must be left with at least one full academic year, exclusive of their practicum.

    Moreover, the student running must have a cumulative GPA of more than 2.5, for undergraduate and diploma students, and more than 3.25 for postgraduate students. They therefore require the approval the university’s registrar to certify that they have met these minimum academic requirements.

    The document goes ahead to state that the student running will not be discriminated against based on their race, sex, nationality, age or Church denomination. International students are free to run for any council seat and are not only limited to the ISADU position.

    Furthermore, the person vying for treasurer’s seat is required to have credible supporting evidence of skills in basic accounting. Lastly, the aspiring candidate must also get approval from an outgoing DUSA executive.

    Nominations and application for the DUSA body end on Tuesday and elections are set to be held on the eleventh week of the semester.

    Previously elections were held annually on the fourteenth weeks but was changed to eleventh in the new amendments to accommodate the trimester calendar. Consequently, qualified nominees will be announced by the presiding officer on the ninth week.

  • DCCC Health Awareness Week a Success

    by Winnie Barake

    (winnemoraa6232@gmail.com)

    Students getting check-ups during Health Awareness Week at the DUSA Park in the main campus at Athi River – Saddam

    Daystar Compassion and Care Centre (DCCC) organized and ran a health awareness week at the DUSA park in the main campus in Athi River.

    The health week ran from Monday to Friday and lasted for an entire day every day. The program was out to make students aware of their health situation, and included both physical and mental health checkups.

    This year, the team partnered with Equity Afia and Nairobi Women’s Hospital to provide free checkups that included, HIV testing, optical, dental, high blood pressure and BMI tests.

    Consultants from the service providers also gave additional information, to those who wanted to know more about taking good care of their personal health.

    DCCC Vice President with Equity Afia service providers – Saddam

    HIV/AIDS testing and consultation registered the highest number of turnouts from students, out of all other check-ups available.

    The service providers commended Daystar for organizing the program and encouraging students to avail themselves for the tests. They further urged the institution to conduct health weeks at least twice a semester for the good of the students.

    DCCC is a student body that is focused on providing holistic health to the Daystar fraternity and the community as a whole.

    The group purposes to help students with psychosocial and health challenges through support groups that are held on a weekly basis.

    DCCC Coordinator and Service Providers – Saddam

  • Falcons win first FKF match

    By Muhanguzi Tola

    (tolakofa1@gmail.com)

    Falcons soccer team

    A brace from captain Barrack Khaseke handed the soccer team a 2-0 win in their opening FKF Division 2 fixture today against UNOA Sports, in a match played at the Bethel grounds in Athi River.

    The first goal was scored in the dying minutes of the first half, after a superb through pass from John Jusu found Barrack’s feet, who eased his way to opening the scores. His second goal came 10 minutes to the end of the match, after an unforced error from the goalkeeper handed him a golden opportunity.

    “I’m happy for the two goals which came as a result of good connection from the team. We promised the fans a win and have delivered,” said Barrack.

    The captain had a chance to extend the score line and bag a hat trick late in the game but his well taken shot from outside the box was deflected out for a corner.

    Head coach Boniface Mutuku commended the team’s performance, which was solidified by the return of center back Collins Chimoi and midfielder  Jusu- who created the first goal. He further stated that despite the team’s lack of consistency, today’s match announces their arrival in the league, given their late start to the season.

    “We had a full house in terms of players today. The defense and midfield were solid…The main challenge usually is consistency. Sometimes players are not available due to attachments or other commitments such as classes,” commented the coach.

    The match attracted a huge fan base, with daystarians turning up in huge numbers in support of the team. Esther Mumo, a fan at the grounds congratulated the team for the excellent game and result, but was quick to point out that the team could perform better than they did.

    “The game was okay but the team did not perform as best as they could in the game. There was room for a better performance,” stated Esther.

    The team plays Al Ahly of Kajiado on March 11 in their next fixture, and are hoping to replicate today’s performance come Saturday.

  • Falcons win darts trophy in Mombasa

    By Muhanguzi Tola

    (tolakofa1@gmail.com)

    Daystar falcons ladies’ team won the annual KUSA championship darts trophy in a tournament hosted in the scenic city of Mombasa.

    The team led the standings with six points, one ahead of Meru University who came in second. Kisii University came in third with three points as the Technical University of Kenya finished fourth with a point.

    Team captain Faith Ndonye has praised the team’s performance, stating that the win serves as motivation and encouragement for the team going forward.

    “The game requires a lot of concentration hence winning isn’t easy. The win acts as encouragement to the whole team,” stated the captain.

    The team has grown from pitching just one player in the previous tournament- Faith, to a full team that is progressively growing. The captain had represented the falcons solely during last year’s tournament, stupendously and single handedly going on to win the trophy.

    Accompanied by the other ladies’ teams, the team travelled for the tournament on March 4.

    Elsewhere, the ladies soccer team lost 1-0 in their opening fixture against Chuka University yesterday, as hockey waits to play today.

    • Daystar Ladies soccer Team

    Team manager Millicent Tipatet had earlier on in an interview decried the effects of Covid 19, stating that it limited their training sessions as a team.

    “COVID affected the team in that we were not able to train together as a team and also as sports were halted, there was minimum practice,” mentioned Tipatet.

    Other teams to travel were chess and scrabble, which both sit at third on their standings after two days of gaming. Basketball and volleyball teams are also participating in the three day tournament which comes to an end later today.

    The teams are expected to travel back tomorrow morning.

  • Falcons register mixed results in KUSA opening fixtures

    By Muhanguzi Tola

    (tolakofa1@gmail.com)

    Daystar Soccer Falcons Team.

    Daystar football Falcons recorded mixed results in the opening three fixtures of Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) league, drawing twice and losing once.

    The team were held to a 3-3 draw in their recent fixture against KCA University in a match that saw Nigerian sharpshooter Victor Atta extend his goal tally to 4 goals. The falcon’s talisman netted a brace to continue his excellent form of scoring in every match this season.

    Team captain Barrack Khaseke commended the team’s performance while speaking to the Involvement, stating that every moment brings a learning experience, following their defense’s lack of sharpness to let in three goals. They face UNOA Sports at 3 pm today at the Bethel grounds in the Athi River campus, for their first FKF Division 2 match.

    “We are prepared and are transferring the same input in today’s game. It’s a bit different but we hope to get a win given that we’re home…Our main challenge is the lack of maintenance of our home ground, but we’re working on it to better our game,” mentioned the captain.

    The result places the falcons third on the KUSA standings with 2 points, one behind second placed Mount Kenya University (MKU). An in-form Kenyatta University tops the log with nine points, having won all their three opening fixtures.

    The team suffered a 4-1 defeat against Kenyatta University on their opening fixture, with Nigerian Victor Atta pulling back the sole consolation goal for the falcons. The team went on to record a 1-1 draw against the Pan African Christian University, sending it third on the league standings.

    Team manager Walter Nalwa blamed the results on the lack of preparedness of the team, having spent almost one year away from the pitch. The team’s lack of training had it struggling for good results, as lack of fitness proved to be a challenge during the opening fixture.

    “Our preparedness wasn’t of the right standards to allow us perform better. In the first game, the players delivered their best performance but due to fitness challenges, the results were not welcoming,” said Walter.

    Elsewhere, a poor run of form has left Daystar City in shambles, and currently sit at the bottom of the league table, following a 2-0 loss against MKU on Saturday.

  • Ghana wins U20 AFCON Championship

    By Muhanguzi Tola

    (tolakofa1@gmail.com)

    The Black Satellites crowned champions of Africa. PHOTO| Twitter

    The Black Satellites of Ghana are the 2021 champions of the coveted U20 Africa Cup of Nations championship that was held in Mauritania from February 14 to March 16.

    The team led by Captain Daniel Afriyie won their fourth- and first since 2009, AFCON title after defeating the Hippos of Uganda in a tightly contested match at the Stade Olympique de Nouakchott. A brace from the captain earned the team a 2-0 win against the Hippos. The performance earned him Man of the match award.

    Vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia congratulated the team through twitter, stating his pride for their performance.

    “Congratulations to Black Satellites of Ghana for winning  the 2021 Total Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament…We are proud of you,” tweeted Dr. Bawumia.

    The win came as a gift for the Ghanians, who were celebrating their 64th independence day. Head coach Abdul Karim Zito had insisted on the importance of winning the trophy on the anniversary, citing this as a great motivation for the team.

    “We are privileged to represent our nation here and as a way of thanking our country we have to win this trophy and present to H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo,” stated the coach during the pre-match conference.

    The team maneuvered through the group stage with a 4-0 win against Tanzania and a draw against Morroco before eliminating Cameroon in the quarterfinals. They then won 1-0 in a tightly contested semifinal against the Scorpions of Gambia.

    The Hippos, who had had an outstanding debut at the tournament, won the Fair Play Award as striker Derrick Kakooza bagged the top scorer award with 5 goals. The striker, together with teammate Aziizi Kayondo was named in the Best XI as Head Coach Morley Byekwaso walked away with Manager of the tournament award.

    Uganda Hippos wins AFCON U20 Fair Play Award PHOTO| FUFA

    The Scorpions of Gambia won the bronze medal after defeating Tunisia 4-2 in penalties following a goalless draw in the third place playoff on March 5.