Daystar students lighting a candle of hope to the community

It’s not every day we hear positive stories about Uni students doing something noble in and out of campus. But a group of Daystar University students is making a difference in their community by building and running a primary school through a student-run Community Based Organization (CBO). Daystar Uni students registered Lukenya Pillars of Transformation in 2009, making the CBO the first registered Community Based Organization in Machakos County.

Some students identified the need to have a public primary school in Lukenya, as most of the schools in the community were private and out of reach for most residents. “The school came about after we realized that there was a need. We approached one of the community members, Mama Mary Mulandi, and she was so generous as to donate two acres of land. Other community members donated ‘mabati’ and few things here and there so as we could put up temporary structures,” says Metrine Namalwa, currently the Executive Director of Lukenya Pillars of Transformation, and also a fourth year social work student. The school got its name – Daystar Mulandi School – as a result of the cooperation between students and Mama Mulandi. Several other partners have since then joined the cause including Waridi Flower Company -which contributed the one permanent structure-, AIESEC, Lukenya Getaway, Lukenya Motors, Simba Cement, ADCU among others. Check out the link below for more of the story:

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORTING ‘KENYA NI KWETU’

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORTING ‘KENYA NI KWETU’

The social media phenomenon has been increasingly catching up in Kenya, and especially when it

comes to leading to mass action. Besides the ‘spread the Love’ and the‘Kenyans for Kenya’ initiative,

the Kenya ni Kwetu love protest’ drew people from across the board together in a demonstration

initiated through social media.

The Kenya ni kwetu graffiti on a wall in Nairobi

The initiative was a call to Kenyans to help build a better country, especially by voting

leaders who uphold integrity. Most people and especially participants found out about the protest

through social media.

“I really enjoyed the love protest! I found out about it on Twitter -I'm following Boniface Mwangi. I

decided to go because I believe in what Mwangi stands for, and I think he is the best-thinking young

person in the public today. I always want to support young people who want to change this country,

but the educated youth who can articulate that don't have the guts and clarity that Boniface has.”

Said Dr. Wandia Njoya a lecturer at Daystar university.

Dr. Wandia Njoya during the protest

Although not everyone who heard about it participated, word for sure was out. “The social media was

majorly the platform used to promote this cause.

Boxes for burying the vultures during the protest.

That was one powerful peace demonstration and the social media did play an important role in it. I

actually found out through twitter.” said David Jerome, a university student, through face facebook.

As Jacque Ndinda a writer and a poet explained, the social media was actually the springboard to the

demonstrations.

“Social media provided them with a platform. The conversation that gave birth to the protest was

started on social media.”

As mentioned earlier, this was not a first. However, unlike the rest of the initiatives mentioned, the

‘Kenya ni  kwetu’ initiative managed to pull the middle class to the streets,  and  as some say, it may

have a futuristic  aspect to it.

“The middle class rarely has such courage to take part in a protest unless it’s about salaries. Next time

such a demo happens, I can only imagine it will be bigger.” Said Edwin Kuria, a creative designer. 

Participants of the Kenya ni Kwetu love protest in action

“I really hope that Boniface 

organizes more demonstrations

because this one gave us a

momentum, and it bound us

together. I think if we have more

demos, we will remind Kenyans

that the current leadership is rotten,

and we must vote the whole lot

out.” added Dr. Wandia Njoya.

Some however think that the status quo will not change. “Only independent and strong institutions will

help Kenya from power hungry leaders. These initiatives are just euphoric and will pass without

achieving much.” Said Geofrey Otieno.

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