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1. By Leeroy Wuone. Email: leeroywuone02@gmail.com

Some of the outstanding things you need to know about the institution is that it was initially started by US missionaries Professor Don Smith, the late Mrs Faye Smith and the late South African politician, lawyer, author Dr S.E Motsoko Pheko.

In 1977, the late Dr D. Ray Hostetter, Ph.D. the sixth President of Messiah college met with Professor Don Smith the co-founder of Daystar communications, Dr. Ray Hostetter was inspired by Professor Smith’s mission for Daystar leading to a transformative partnership that played a crucial role in the evolution of international institutions or Christian communication IICC in Daystar university.

Dr. Ray Hostetter served as President of Messiah college from 1964 to 1994. Daystar University got their Charter sometimes in September 1994. His leadership was instrumental in the establishment and success of the partnership with Daystar university college, guided with the collaboration during his formative years.

The late Professor Stephen Talitwala as the founding principal of Daystar university college, later became the first Vice Chancellor when the university transitioned into Daystar university. His vision of leadership was key in establishing the academic credibility of Daystar during his partnership with Messiah college.

Some of the things we need to note and keep in mind, in April 1984 the partnership officially commenced leading to the launch   of a four years degree programme at Daystar University college in collaboration with Messiah college. September 29, 1994 Daystar university college was granted a charter by the government of Kenya officially becoming Daystar university, this milestone marked the conclusion of the partnership as Daystar began awarding its own degrees” he said.

“Thank you for welcoming us to your campus, to your home, ’’said his son Curt Hostetter, who was accompanied by the wife Hoffy Steingrimsdottir. “My wife and I now reside in Reykjavic Iceland, for those who don’t know look it up later where it is” he giggled and continues “it’s a very cold place so if this is your winter that is like the hottest day for us in the summer. This is our first time at Daystar, this is our first time in Kenya, this is our first time in Africa,’’ he said.

“My father was a Christian educator, he spent thirty years of his life as the president of a university in Grantham Pennsylvania, the United States and was dedicated to Christian education. Education was so important to him and we have many students at our campus who come from Africa and my late father thought there would be a better way to do Christian education and he set out to share his Professors with Africa so that’s how the relationship started.

“He was very proud of his relationship with Daystar. I think one of the proudest moments was when Daystar developed a relationship with Messiah college,” said Curt.

“He spoke so often, so fondly of this place. He was here as we have seen many pictures, he was here at the groundbreaking when you  started this campus in Athi-River, he was very proud of  that but I have to say the most proud moment of his life and his relationship with Daystar was in 1994 when  Daystar became independent, when you had your  own Charter to become your  own university.

“The most important thing”, he said to me, “Is these young faces the students  are the most important thing in education so thank you for welcoming us to your home, thank you for welcoming us to your home campus,’’ said the late President’s son Curt Hostetter.

The late Messiah college president, Dr. D Ray Hostetter’s life was composed of Faith, vision and promise. He fulfilled them with humility, integrity and strength and will truly be remembered as a key player in the foundations of our great university, Daystar University.

BY BEN HUEGEL

You must stay alert. It could start in any part of the city; you’ll see it in  the distance- a small crowd forming like Elijah’s cloud fist. They may be surrounding an old man, preaching against President William Ruto and the evils of neo-colonialism. They might be a group of journalists, simply carrying out their duty as the voice of the people. Police will surround the area, shields and weapons at the ready.

Keep your eyes and ears sharp. At any second, you’ll hear the faint sound of a metallic clip hitting the ground. Then you run. Rarely does one see where the grenade rolled off to. Run as fast as you can and hope that it’s behind you. The explosion will numb your eardrums, the chemical agent will surround you in a matter of seconds. A direct hit would tear your flesh to pieces.

On the eighth day of the eighth month, known officially as Nane-Nane, the mother of all protests was set to take place. Police launched a full-scale assault on downtown Nairobi and, like a cornered animal, attacked anyone in sight. Scattering every small group of people.

Speaking at the National Police Service Campus on the sixth of August, acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli stated, “Every Kenyan as per the law has liberty to demonstrate, picket, and assemble as per the law”. The day came, and not a single Kenyan flag or sign of Kenyan pride was displayed without severe punishment.

Innocent civilians were also caught in the violence. Lone vendors and boda-boda drivers were beaten with clubs while going about their business. Matatus were chased off, empty of any passengers. Ubers driving in were stopped and ordered to turn around. We witnessed one policeman reach into the passenger’s window, pull out a phone, and smash it on the asphalt.

But the police also carried out odd gestures of kindness, one of them was seen emerging from the back of the vehicle sharing his food ration and water bottle with a homeless person. Another was kind enough to push a disabled man in a wheelchair out of a small alleyway before blasting it with tear gas.

The face of a little boy, not older than twelve, could be seen running in and out of the action. His face bore a confused look, his eyes a constant glossy red from tear gas. He wore a dirty sweater and pants two sizes too small. After a short skirmish, one of the GSU officers took him aside, placed one hand on his shoulders, and shook the boy’s hand with the other. They shared a few words, then gently escorted the boy to safety and waved him away.

We know for certain that the police were aware of the massive media presence around them, whether these gestures were played for the camera or not, nobody knows. But they remind one of the depressing realities: that these officers are also human beings.

Heavy police presence feels like an understatement; there were at least a dozen of them  on every corner of the city. Using any and every means they had to suppress, including ancient weaponry. On Kimathi Street, we spotted one of them using a Martini-Henry rifle. The same standard-issue rifle used by the British to conquer and subdue Africa in the late 1800’s. Here,  more than 200 years later, it was quelling demonstrators on the street named after Kenya’s most renowned freedom fighter, the Late Dedan Kimathi.

“We would like to thank the fourth estate,” said the Inspector General in his speech on the sixth, “for the continued support they have given us.” It appears police have decided to display that warm gratitude by engaging in direct attacks on the fourth estate.

We had gathered in Moi Avenue, a large group of journalists waiting to report on the situation. Despite the lack of protestors, more and more GSU members were arriving on the scene. A white truck unloaded heavily armed policemen in civilian clothing. Some of the journalists began talking in a low tone. “That’s the one, we know his name,” someone said “you need to watch out for the one in grey, he wants to kill.”

No more than a minute later, the grenade clip hit the ground, and the grenade flew above my head. As if the signal had been rung, policemen from all corners turned their weapons on us in unison, firing their supply of grenades and teargas canisters. The sound was that of an artillery barrage. We ran for cover. Later, we discovered that in the confusion, they had cornered Cecilia Ngunjiri from Real Stories Media and beat her severely.

Kennedy Obara, a freelance journalist and proud Daystar  alumnus, carried her to safety on his back. “I saw her being clobbered by police,” he said, “They were yelling at her to delete the photos she had taken. When I ran to save her, police apologized to me and said they had no idea she was a journalist.”  In their rabid enthusiasm, they must have missed the large Media Council of Kenya vest that Cecilia wore over her jacket. Multiple journalists were harassed and injured, including another Daystar alumnus by the name of Larry Madowo.

The mother of all protests had failed to manifest. Any small group that managed to form was quickly silenced. But that did not stop the few activists and demonstrators from challenging police from morning till sundown. Kasmuel McOure presented himself and was forced to take refuge in the NMG offices to avoid arrest.

On Kimathi Street, activist Julius Kamau stood with a placard that read “Colonialism never really ended” on one side and on the other, “poverty is the modern form of slavery”. As he quoted Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream speech, journalists and citizens gathered around to document the ordeal. The little boy with glossy eyes stood beside him and listened keenly to his elder’s remarks.

It didn’t take long before a truck of policemen arrived, and at the feet of Dedan Kimathi’s statue, ripped his placard away and moved to arrest the activist. The boy ran for safety. Julius struggled to hold on to the metal railings but was eventually subdued and carried away. The protestor yelled, threw rocks at the car, and everyone ran for cover as the police responded. In the chaos, Julius managed to break free and pushed himself out of the moving vehicle. He picked up his crumpled placard and limped back to the statue of his revolutionary ancestor. Exhausted and hurt, he struggled to lift his fist to continue with his preaching. The little boy joined him again, lifted his fist high above Julius’s, and joined the chants of “Ruto must go!”.

Others were not so lucky. We witnessed a young man being forced into a police truck. “What have I done?” he cried as five officers struggled to silence him “all because I love my country!?” Once in the vehicle, he emerged from the side, and as the truck was about to drive off, cried to his countrymen, “Wa Kenya! Wa Kenya!” Unmarked Black and white Subarus were spotted kidnapping whoever struck their fancy. Police claim to have arrested 174 suspects in Nairobi alone who will probably be found guilty of demonstrating, picketing, and assembling, as per the law.

The Nane-Nane protests failed to manifest as it was anticipated. I however wish to commend the team of journalists from different media houses who endured the police chase and inhaled tons and tons of teargas.  Freedom is truly earned and as the struggle continues, they’ve earned our respect for their bravery and love for our motherland– Kenya. I believe Kenya will still see its better days ahead. A luta continua; vitória é certa!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Joe Aura, aurajoe6@gmail.com

Daystar University Choir emerged victorious at the recent Kenya Music Festival 2024, held from August 5 to 12 at Moi Girls High School in Eldoret, showcasing their talent under the theme ‘Talent Development for Growth of the Creative Economy’. Despite being newcomers, the choir made a significant impact, particularly in the Live Instrumental Accompaniment Choir category, where they performed Zilizopendwa and claimed victory over music giants Kenyatta University, known for being the first institution to offer a Bachelor of Music degree in Kenya.

Since its inception, The Kenya Music Festival continues to celebrate the nation’s musical heritage, breaking barriers, embracing diversity, and inspiring optimism for the future. This annual event, organized by the Ministry of Education, showcases students’ talents in music, dance, and elocution.

Daystar University’s participants excelled across various categories.  In Class 2018P – Public Speaking, Hanifa Chelagat secured first place while Victor Mumo came in third. Abdul Shaban claimed first position in Class 2515P – Arabic Verse Speaking. The choir performed remarkably in multiple categories, taking first place in Class 893 – Live Instrumental Accompaniment Choir, and sixth place in Class 894 – African Gospel Music. Additionally, in Class 1114P – Woodwind Own Choice, Ridge Abach placed second while Hanifa Chelagat finished fourth. In Class 1135P – African Drum Solo, Miriam Wambui and Abdul Shaban took fifth and sixth positions respectively. Their success earned them an invitation to perform at the 2024 Kenya Music Finalists concert, held at Moi Girls’ High School in Eldoret on August 12th, where the choir performed in Class 893 and Class 894. They were also invited to the prestigious State Concert on August 16th but will be unable to attend due to funding challenges from the university.

Among the standout performers was Abdul Shaban, former Editor-in-Chief of The Involvement and a talented tenor saxophonist. He participated alongside alto saxophonists Hanifa Chelagat and Simon Mugoshi, Pamba on the drums, Obadiah Bahizire on the keys, Timothy Muindi on bass guitar, and other choir members singing bass, alto, and soprano. Their collective pride was in clinching the top spot in this prestigious category.

Shaban reflected on their victory, saying, “As first-timers, we have overachieved, beating Kenyatta University and being invited to perform at the finalists’ concert is a huge accomplishment”.  The choir’s remarkable performance earned them a coveted invitation to the State Concert, although they will be unable to attend due to funding challenges. Nonetheless, the choir’s success marks a milestone in Daystar University’s musical journey and sets the stage for greater achievements in the future.

Performance overview:

Position 1
1. Class 893 – Live Instrumental and Vocal Performance
2. Class 2018 P- English Public Speaking – Hanifa Chelagat
3. Class 2515P- Arabic Verse – Abdul Shaban
4. Class 2315P – French Solo Verse – Salamar Adolwa
5. Class 2415P – French Public Speaking – Lucien Dedeten

Position 2
1- Class 1107 , Piano Duet- Miriam Wambui and Judy Nyaga
2- Class 114 P Bass Solo- David Oketch
3- 1114P- Woodwind Solo- Ridge Abatch

Position 3 
1. Class 114 P – Bass Solo Lucien Dedeten
2. Class 833- Original Composition – Mixed Choir

Position 4
1. Class 867- Equity Anthem – Mixed
2. Class 836- Advanced Arrangement – Mixed
3. Class 891- From Africa and Earlier- Mixed
4. Class 1114P- Hanifa Chelagat

Position 5
1. Class 1135P – African Drum Solo – Miriam Wambui
2. 814- Adaptation and arrangement- Female
3. Class 112 P – Alto Solo

Position 6
1. Class 894- African Gospel Music
2. Class 1135 P- African Drums Solo- Abdul Shaban

Class 112P- Alto Solo -Sharon Gatete

Class 112 P- Alto Solo- Gloria Bwamula

Class 112P- Alto Solo- Praise Makena

The success of Daystar University’s team at the 2024 Kenya Music Festival would not have been possible without the dedication and support of key individuals. Special appreciation goes to Mr. Moses Alubala, the Choir Director, and Mr. Muyale Inzai, the Choir Trainer, for their tireless efforts in guiding and honing the choir’s talents. Madam Jacqueline Wesonga, who managed the finances, played an essential role in ensuring the team’s logistical needs were met. We also extend our gratitude to the supporting lecturers, Madam Muthoni Njenga and Mr. Bill Rowe, whose encouragement and expertise contributed significantly to the team’s achievements.

The Kenya Music Festival continues to showcase the country’s rich cultural diversity and artistic development, echoing the proud tradition of musical excellence that began in the early post-independence years. Artists like Fundi Konde, Daudi Kabaka, and Fadhili William used traditional folk music to promote unity and cultural pride. In the 1970s, Benga music, popularized by Daniel Owino Misiani, Joseph Kamaru and Them Mushrooms, captivated audiences with electrified guitars and modern production techniques. The 1990s saw the rise of Kapuka music, blending traditional sounds with Western influences, while artists like Eric Wainaina and Nameless resonated with the youth by addressing politics and cultural identity. By the 2000s, technology catapulted Kenyan music to global recognition, with artists like Sauti Sol, Nyashinski, and Victoria Kimani representing Kenya’s rich cultural narrative on the world stage.

Today, Daystar University students carry this mantle forward, as their success at the Kenya Music Festival reflects the legacy of Kenya’s evolving musical landscape and their promising role in the nation’s creative future. Music remains a great way of expressing our feelings not only our culture.  It has the capacity to speak more than words and influence the emotions of the listeners.

From the Involvement team it is kudos to Daystar university students who participated in the festivals.

 

par Lilian Ruth

{image by europe1}

 

M. Ismail Haniyeh était le leader politique du Hamas dans la guerre entre le Hamas et Israël et était très engagé dans les négociations sur les otages. Les allégations du peuple iranien disent qu’Israël le regrettera et sont convaincues que les Israélites sont derrière sa mort.

M. Ismail Haniyeh était le chef politique du Mouvement de résistance islamique palestinien, le Hamas.

L’Iran a promis une attaque douloureuse et une vengeance pour la mort d’Ismail. Il n’est pas’ encore évident de savoir ce qui va se passer, mais on prévoit que l’Iran ne voudra pas avoir un autre problème avec Israël, car l’Iran n’est déjà pas en bons termes avec les États-Unis et il ne sera peut-être pas prêt à prendre autant de risques. La situation en Israël ne semble pas très encourageante, car de nombreux dégâts ont été causés dans le pays, notamment l’incendie d’un bâtiment qui a causé la mort de 12 enfants.

La mort du leader a eu un tel impact que le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies a dû tenir une réunion d’urgence au Moyen-Orient afin d’élaborer des stratégies de sécurité en Iran et en Israël.

S’agit-il d’une guerre de religion ou d’une guerre politique? Quelle est la force derrière cette guerre et quand et comment peut-elle s’arrêter ?