Zetech University

                          Zetech University Underway

By Erick Diang’a

proposed university under construction. Photo/ Erick Diang'a

Zetech College is one of the middle level institutions transiting to a fully-fledged university in the next 7 months.

The university is currently under construction in Ruiru. The erection  is expected to be complete by September 2013.

“The first intake will be in September this year after the completion,” said the business development manager at Zetech College, Mr Moses Maina. He added that the main campus will offer all the courses presently undertaken in the various zetech campuses within the Nairobi Central Business District.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology ( JKUAT) is an educational partner with Zetech College. Mr Maina assured the student leaders who visited the site that the JKUAT programmes will run normally regardless of the swop to university. He further affirmed that not only degree courses would be offered but also diploma and higher diploma.

The project manager, Mr Josephat Ndegwa said that the campus will have basic amenities such as an auditorium with a capacity of 270 students a sitting, a library, a swimming pool, a football field, a parking lot among others.

“At the moment, the construction is on 4.5 acres piece of land but plans are underway to adjust the acreage to accommodate hostels for both gender,” said the premise maintenance officer, Mr Benson Omundi. Manchang Foreign Engineering Company is the main contractor assisted by China Jiangx International Limited. Zetech College is the developer in the proposed main campus establishment while Archspirations Limited handles the architectural department.

Project manager, left Mr Josephat Ndegwa takes students round the construction site.

Group photo of student leaders in front of the edifice.

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.