CHUKA UNIVERSITY TOPSTORY TEAM

                                  The endless tale of hunger

John Munene, a resident of  Mitheru ward, Maara constituency in Tharaka Nithi County can best tell the painful tale of hunger. Munene recently hit the headlines after he was arrested for slaughtering his neighbor’s dog for stew at least to quell the sting of hunger. This bizarre action he says, was his last option following three days of starvation.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoj_iIxl7Sc&t=21s

His case drew the attention of director of public prosecutions Noordin Haji who immediately ordered Tharaka Nithi county commissioner Beverly opwora to facilitate his immediate release and ensure he has been provided with enough  food. 

                                         DPP HAJI TWEETS ON HUNGER

Munenes case is arguably one among millions of other cases of kenyans living in abject poverty and agonising due to prolonged drought and consequently,hunger. In May this year, Beverly Opwora acknowledged that over forty six thousand people were in need of relief food in Tharaka Nithi county only.

                                          

                                              county commissioner speaks on hunger

Four months down the line and miss Opwora a week ago once again confirmed that hunger is still biting and that the government is laying down the necessary strategies to assist the affected.
 Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu and Turkana counties are among other regions in dire need of relief food, pasture and water for their livestock. The pastoral communities in these areas have been forced to move from their homes with their families and cattle in search of greener pastures. In addition, the herders have not only been affected physically and emotionally, but  their children's education have also been disrupted while at the same time missing out in the participation in government initiated activities such as the recently conducted census. A majority of pastrolistshave over the years been forced to sell their emaciated cattle at a throw away price whenever drought strikes,with the empty promise by the government, to manage the situation.

Effects of drought in parts of Kenya

Pastoralists auction their emaciated cows

The drought and hunger crisis is a chronic issue that continues to bite down the throats of approximately 25% of the Kenyan population.  This is despite the fact that food security is one of the Uhuru led government big four agenda.
https://borgenproject.org/top-10-facts-about-hunger-in-kenya

                                         https://youtu.be/lkCi2ERB4mE

On 20^th march this year, Deputy president  William  Ruto on behalf of the government denied claims that the country was food deficient even after pictures depicting the suffering of dozens of Kenyans went viral on social media. This prompted many Kenyans of good will to come out in large numbers and stretch a helping hand to the affected families by donating food staffs.

Agriculture is one of the major avenues to avert hunger in any society and is also the backbone of Kenya's economy contributing to 25% of the country's economy. Many Kenyans especially the farmers would therefore ask whether the government has taken agriculture  seriously enough to ensure a well fed hence a healthy working  society. According to the International Budget Partnership(IBP), low funding towards agriculture is one of the reasons the country is yet to be food secure. In addition, IBP says that it is not yet clear who between the National and the County government is responsible for agricultural development in the country. What need to be done according to IBP, is to have coordinated efforts between the National and County governments to ensure that no Kenyan sleeps hungry at this time and age.
https://www.africaresearchinstitute.org/newsite/blog/is-agriculture-being-neglected-under-devolution/

 Chuo cha Chuka chawafanyia Fadhila walemavu

Naibu wa chansela Prof Erastus Njoka amkabidhi Francis makucha

Wanasema waswahili kwamba Dau la mnyonge haliendi joshi, na likienda litazama. Naibu wa chansela hakukubali kuliona dau la mwanafuni Francis Wanyama likizama. Ndipo akaamua kumfanyia francis fadhila kwa kumtunuku makucha mapya {crutches} kwani aliyokuwa akiyatumia yalikuwa yamechakaa. Kuterema kwa wanyama hakungefichika kwani alivaa tabasamu isiyo elezeka alipokuwa akikabidhiwa makucha yale. Chuo kikuu cha chuka kimelivalia njuga swala la kuwajali na kuwakubali wanafunzi na wafanyikazi walio na ulemavu. Chuo cha Chuka kimehakikisha kwamba wanafunzi hawa wanatamba na kutambaa katika majengo yake yote. Pamoja na hili, kitengo cha ushauri nasaha kimehakikisha kwamba unyanyapaa haupo miongoni ma wanafunzi wengine kwa kuwahamasisha umuhimu wa kuwakubali na kuwapenda wenzao waliolemaa. Aidha, prof. Erastus Njoka alitoa wito kwa jamii kuwapa elimu ya kutosha walemavu kwani wanauwezo na maarifa kama watu wengine wasio na ulemavu.

Chuo Cha Chuka chainuka

 Chuo Cha Chuka cha wavutia walio na tamaa ya kupata elimu

Chuo kikuu cha Chuka Kinaendelea kuinuka kwa kasi ya kuduwaza. Chuo hiki ni mojawapo ya vyuo ambavyo vilianzishwa chini ya miaka kimi na tano {15] iiyopita. Hata hivyo, kuongezeka ka idadi ya wanafunzi kadri miaka inavyo songa kutoka wanafunzi mia tano{500} chuo kilipoanza , hadi wanafunzi elfu kumi na saba {17000} sasa hivi ni dhihirisho tosha kwamba Chuo hiki kinaingia katika orodha ya vyuo vya kimataifa. Aidha, usimamizi wa Chuo cha Chuka ukiongozwa na Naibu wa Chansela Prof Erastus Nyaga Njoka unajizatiti kujenga mijengo ya kisasa ambayo itaendana na hadhi na viwango vya juu vya elimu chuoni humo. Miongoni mwa majengo hayo ni pamoja na Bweni la wanafunzi wa kiume, kituo cha utafiti cha kisasa na umbo au jengo tawala ambalo linatazamiwa kuwa kivutio kikubwa na uti wa mgongo wa chuo hicho. Bila shaka ni Dhahiri kwamba Chuo Cha Chuka kinaenziwa na wengi na kitaendelea kuwavutia wengi walio na ari ya kukifu kiu ya elimu na maarifa.

Bweni la wanafunzi wa kiume 

Umbo Tawala litakalo kuwa kivutio kikuu chuoni Chuka{administration block}

Wanafunzi wa chuo cha Chuka Wachagua Viongozi

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Baada ya muda wa kampeni na ahadi kochokocho kama ilivyo ada ya wanasiasa, siku ya kuwapima mizana wawaniaji wa nafasi tofauti iliwadia. Kwa kuwa chuo hiki kina vitivo 5 wawakilishi 15 wa wanafunzi hususan watatu kutoka kila kitivo mnamo januari  26 mwaka huu walijitosa katika uga wa pavilion kuwachagua viongozi.

Kwa kuwa chuo kikuu cha chuka kina enzi demokrasia, wanafunzi walipata fursa ya kuwania nafasi tofauti za uongozi katika chama cha wanafunzi .{Chuka University Students A ssociation}.

Uchaguzi wa mwaka huu ulikuwa tofauti kwani bunge la kitaifa lilibatilisha mfumo wa awali ambapo wanafunzi waliruhusiwa kuwachagua viongozi moja kwa moja, hadi mfumo wa wawakilishi wa vitivo tofauti kuwachagua viongozi kwa niaba ya wanafunzi.

Shughuli nzima ya uchaguzi iliendelea bila bighudha yoyoyte ikizingatiwa kwamba chuo kilikuwa kimewaalika maafisa wa tume ya uchaguzi nchini ili kuendesha mpango huu pamoja na vitengo vya usalama vilivyokuwa vimeshika doria

Baadhi ya walio ibuka washindi ni pamoja na Livan Njeru, mwenye kiti,james kamau, katibu mkuu, paul ogeto, mweka hazina, moureen nyambura, katibu mwandaliza, john Momanyi, mwelekezi wa masomo na Josphat Maru, mwelekezi wa ustawi wa wanafunzi. Viongozi hawa walichukua rasmi jukumu la kilisukuma gurudumu la kuhakikisha ustawi wa wanafunzi umeshughulikiwa kwa kina.

“Hatuku kumbana na changamoto zozote za utovu wa nidhamu kama ilivyo kawaida ya chaguzi za vyuo vingine zinazo kumbwa na fujo na uharibifu wa mali.” Daktari Geodfrey Gathongo ambaye ni mwenye kiti wa tume ya uchaguzi alidokeza. Akishadidida haya, Joyce Macharia ambaye ni naibu wa mwamini wa ustawi aliwapongeza wanafunzi wote kwa nidhamu na utulivu unaoendelea kukipa chuo cha Chuka haiba na turuhani zisizo na kifani.

Moureen Nyambura

katibu mwandalizi

Livan Njeru               James Kamau
                                   Katibu Mkuu
Mwenye Kiti

 Wanafunzi wawika kwenye churchil show

Kikundi cha wasakata densi cha New Blyden cha Chuka kilipata nafasi ya kuonyesha umahiri wao katika densi kwenywe kipindi maarufu sana nchini kenya{Churchil Show Meru Edition} baada ya kuibuka washindi kati ya vikundi ishirini. Kikundi hiki kilizinduliwa mwaka wa 2015 ambapo kilikuwa na wanachama watanonpeke yake. Kusudio la waanzilishi lilikuwa kuimarisha talanta sio tu katika densi bali pia sarakasi, michezo ya kuigiza na pia vichekesho. Bali na hayo New Blyden wamebobea kwa Sanaa licha ya changamoto nyingi kama vile kukosa ufadhili wa kifedha ili kuendeleza shughuli zao za kuimarisha talanta katika densi. Sasa hivi, New Blyden ni nyumbani kwa burudani kwa takriban wanafunzi nia moja ambao husakata densi katika warsha mbalimbali chuoni Chuka na pia sherehe zingine kama vile harusi.” Densi ina manufaa mengi kwani inawawezesha wengi kukifu mahitaji yao na hata kuanzisha biashara kutokana na malipo wanayo yapata baada ya kuburudisha hadhira. Aidha densi pia inamwezesha mwanafunzi kuepukana na tabia kama vile u;languzi wa dawa za kulevya , uasherati na pia kuweka dau almaarufu {Kamari}. “alidoke Nicholus Muriki mwenye kiti wa kikundi hiki. New Blyden wanatoa shukrani za dhati kwake Joyce Macharia ambaye ni naibu mwamini wa wanafunzi kwa juhudi zake kuhakikisha kwamba kikundi hiki kimepata fursa ya kuburudisha katika sherehe za chuo cha Chuka