photos

Event Photographs

These are some of the most important event photos taken by photospeak /Erick Diang'a

Behaviour change

                                                                                                           

Little home where freedom dwells
   

bottles of beer in a wardrobe. photo by Erick Diang'a

By Erick Diang’a

H

ostels provide sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed and share a bathroom and other domestic facilities such as kitchen and TV area. 

They can be of a single or mixed sex and are mostly located next to cities, towns, learning institutions and industrial areas. They are majorly budget oriented where the amount paid caters for all the requirements including meals. They are considered cheaper for both the owner and the occupants.

Parents prefer taking their children to study from hostels due to low  rental fees and reduced distance from school . Not only students reside in hostels but also adults with their own errands. Non-Kenyan citizens also find hostels better places to live for given periods.

                    Privacy and behaviour

Privacy in such rooms is minimal because as many as 14 people can occupy a single room. The more the number of beds, the least privacy is guaranteed and the cheaper the fee. For this reason, students are exposed to some unethical characters and behaviours and adapt to them quickly. The change of behavior in a hostel can be dire due to the absence of a specialized mentor and parental guidance.  In contrary to colleges, universities, polytechnics, secondary and primary schools, hostels do not offer career guidance, counseling and behavior monitoring. This is a major fact that renders a hostel into a dangerous zone for young students. Able individuals opt for single rooms to attain privacy though at a higher cost.

 Away from the general view, a typical hostel in Kenya is a place for drunkards, thieves, the humble, pretenders etc. various criminal activities ranging from suicide, physical fights are rampant despite the fact that rules and regulations are the first to be read on arrival.

                      False attractions

The first time you arrive, a warm welcome from the front office gives you an impression that the desire to find an oasis is achieved. The minimal orientation done to guests is carried out in well-furnished rooms and bathrooms with flowing water. Only to realize later that the taps can remain dry for as long as 4 days and the beautiful rooms are never occupied by anybody but ‘‘somebody.”

Photospeak tried just to remind its audience to take note of what they might have overlooked. The pictures will create an imagination within you.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Stsudents out for sustainability Outreach

By Erick Diang’a                                                                                                                        

Children and students posing for a photo:
 PHOTO/ ERICK DIANG'A

ZETECH College students visited Kahawa West Christian children’s home to give donations and hope to young children.The centre is located few meters from Kahawa West estate in Kiambu District.

The home is owned by pastor Charles Njani, the founder and  director of the facility. He is assisted by four primary school teachers who have volunteered to aid the children in their studies.

"Construction of the home is ongoing though there is lack of funds to speed up the process. Hygiene at the school is poor following lack of reliable and adequate toilets'', the pastor said. Mr Njani added that children are susceptible to water borne diseases due to lack of water storage and treatment facilities in the school. The director informed the students that he has shouldered the burden by lobbying for funds from the government and non-governmental organizations but the amount is hardly enough to complete part of the construction.

The room that is currently used for learning purposes is too small to accommodate the pupils. The circumstances force some children to learn under the tree at a nearby church. Three of the children were in public high schools and had to pay school fees: a task that could not be handled solely by the director.

                                               

The college saw the need to contribute money and collect donations to the facility. Donations included clothes and stationery.  Part of the money was used to purchase food and beverages while the rest was delivered to school in cash.

Children had much fun playing and taking lunch together with students. The meal was prepared by students of hotel management who were equipped with cooking materials and chef wears. From the look of the children’s faces, hope was at least restored by the college's kind attitude.

Such services are vital more so when they are aimed at improving health and living standards of orphans in the country. Schools, organizations, religious bodies, institutions and the government should indulge in such initiatives to eliminate food crisis and poverty. This will also make the world a better place for

orphans and vulnerable sons and daughters. Children are the future leaders of the state that is why they deserve proper care, support and nurturing. Parents should be made aware of proper family care in relation to healthy living practices.

Noel ,left, a hotel management  student leading 
students and pupils in a play.
 

Children having a meal together
 in one of the classrooms

Students and children having  a group photo.

Environment

Eastleigh sewage hitch puts lives at risk

                 By Erick Diang'a

sewage bubbling above a manhole

Environmental conservation starts with an individual’s will in eradicating unhealthy practices like careless disposal of plastic bags and litters. The government of Kenya through the water ministry is majorly responsible for ensuring citizens a country free from mismanaged garbage, untreated water and burst sewer pipes.

Eastleigh estate residents fear that waterborne diseases might emerge due to poor sewage management. In the last one month, stinking sewage has been overflowing uncontrollably on the roads. The problem could be mistaken for the current rains hitting the city.

Despite the irritating flow and odor of the sewage, the government has done nothing to contain the issue- in fact, the Nairobi water and Sewerage Company collects its dues every end month. This issue questions the duty of water ministry to Kenyans who are ready to pay their bills to receive clean water.

In October 2012, residents complained of consuming water mixed with  the mess. Residents realized the mystery and acknowledged the rest. Several children were admitted in hospitals due to symptoms associated with waterborne illnesses.

Bursting of sewer pipes has been caused by vandalism. Unknown people illegally removed manhole lids exposing the mess to residential houses and roads. Since January, major manholes have been covered by kindhearted residents using rocks,an action that has only increased traffic snarl-up.

Eastleigh is one of the trade centers within Nairobi county that yield much revenue to the country.  Nevertheless, the center has not been given recognition by the government in terms of better roads and waste management.

The dilapidated road linking Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Mlango Kubwa estate has been the garbage dumping site. The presence of bubbling pool of sewage on this road hinders transportation of goods and people. In most cases, the condition forces public service vehicles from Nairobi town to deviate to Garissa lodge shopping center route.

Charity begins at home; let citizens take issues into their own hands by primarily practicing domestic hygiene. Before cleaning the streets, families should manage their own bins in their houses at the grassroots level. If all families can strive towards achieving this, Eastleigh will remain one of the cleanest estates one can talk of in Nairobi town. Above all, government should give a second eye to the estate before the condition transits into a disaster.                                              

A man pulling a Mkokoteni through a flooded sewage.
PHOTO/ERICK DIANG'A