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.
However, challenges still remain. The growing number of students in the school – now at 120 – is stretching the inadequate physical facilities. The school also faces an acute shortage of teachers.
The CBO is keen on seeing that it does all it can to address these challenges by working through partners.
“Well wishers include Mama Mary Mulandi who has gone ahead to increase her land donation to three acres. Other partners include AIESEC, which has been bringing in volunteer teachers. Currently, three from China are in session. Last semester, we had two from Iran. We’ve had some from Ethiopia and Tanzania as well,” says Dan Mburu, a second year education student, also Projects director at Lukenya Pillars of Transformation.
“So far we have only four government teachers. We are still working to get the school registered under the government so that we can get funds for free primary education as well as the feeding program,” adds Metrine Namalwa.
Daystar Mulandi School has changed the lives of community members and children can now find an affordable, more convenient school to attend.
“I used to school at K.M.C. primary school before I joined this school. I had to wake up at 4.00pm to catch the 5.00am staff bus heading from Daystar University. I was usually sleepy and tired by the time I got to school,” says Alex Maina, a class seven student at Daystar Mulandi School
Another student, Faith Nduku, says they used to come across wild animals like hyenas on their way to their former school in Athi River.
The student-run CBO is not stopping with the school project. Plans are underway to start a clinic, poultry project and the dhobi (laundry) project. The clinic project is meant to see to it that the community surrounding Daystar does not have to go all the way to Athi River for treatment, while the dhobi and poultry projects are income generating.
Besides these, the CBO has programs. They include sexuality program, Bible study, mentorship, and life skill trainings. All these are meant to equip the community with leadership skills that will ensure sustainability in all aspects of life.
These students are truly living up to the true calling of servant leadership.
mkenyamzalendo
July 29, 2011 at 1:22 pm
UHURU IF U CARE SO MUCH 4 THESE DYING KENYANS U WOULD HAVE PROVIDE FUNDS TO PURCHASES FOOD,IRRIGATION BUT AS KHALWALE SAID SOME PRESIDENTIAL HOPER WANT TO BE RICH WHEN OTHER KENYANS ARE DYING I THINK UHURU U DONOT HAVE KENYANS @ UA HAT THANKS GOD BLESS U
mkenyamzalendo
July 29, 2011 at 1:26 pm
LET US BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES UHURU THA WEATHER MAN GAVE SO SIGNAL OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS A FINANCE MINISTER WHAT DID U DO TO AVERT THE SITUATION I PAUSE TO U MR.UHURU BE HONEST
Martin
July 29, 2011 at 1:33 pm
What is this nonsense??? He is part of the problem, what has he bloody done to help avert this problem… How do they plan to avert this next time…. HE SHOULD SHUT THE HELL UP AND GO DO HIS JOB!!!
Pemkim3
July 29, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Why doesn’t our dear minister for Finance together with his wealthy family lead by example instead of rushing to poor and overtaxed Kenyans to contribute. After all as Finance Minister he has failed the agricultural community terribly
Chantal Ongaro
July 29, 2011 at 2:02 pm
The draft constitution
recognizes the right to food. It provides that “everyone has the right to be
free from hunger and to have access to food in adequate quantities and of
adequate quality and cultural acceptability.” By its nature, the
right to food creates an onus on the government to pursue policies that improve
on food production and guarantees access for all which they have failed to pursue! why come out now, pleading for help when yesterday, Gov’t spokesman denied the fact that there’s a crisis going on in the country!
Mung Jen
July 29, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Last i heard the government YOU being part of it is not aware that there is a hunger crisis in Kenya. Looking for popularity using the unfortunate calamity?
Chantal Ongaro
July 29, 2011 at 2:06 pm
The draft constitution recognizes the right to food. It provides that “everyone has the right to be
free from hunger and to have access to food in adequate quantities and of adequate quality and cultural acceptability.” By its nature, the right to food creates an onus on the government to pursue policies that improve on
food production and guarantees access for all which they have failed to
pursue! why come out now, pleading for help when yesterday, Gov’t
spokesman denied the fact that there’s a crisis going on in the
country!
Jenny Kuriah
July 29, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Uhuru how much have you donated???……And what have you done to see through this crisis asa Finance minister…..???nothing!! I mean you come from the royal of Family of Your family owns like half of the country wealth and you are vying to be the next orenzo comes 2012 I was hoping to see your face, and name on the front line leading with the donation and encouranging fellow kenyans to help, But see your self you are the last one to speak out for me am done with you kura yangu hupati…….
Phil Majwa
July 29, 2011 at 2:15 pm
The best thing for Uhuru to do is to resign! You have failed as a Finance minister for allocate funds appropriately!!!
Devann
July 29, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Clearly if there was a doubt that this man has little decorum it no longer exists. Only an leader with as much arrogance as this man can even dare add insult to ‘starvation’ by writing this blog post asking us to contribute to help starving kenyans when he is in government and doing little or to put it as Ahmed Nassir put it to Tobiko; they are masters of inertia in matters human but masters of haste in matters of personal greed as they demonstrated by increasing their salaries and for this man right here and many of the MPs we still don’t know if they have paid their tax arias. I think people like this just love annoying us, its your watchman coming to tell you that thieves are breaking into your house and he was aware that they were going to do so 6 months in advance but chose to do nothing!!! Uhuru don’t tell us the government has funds constrains when unemployed kenyans are doing all they can to feed the starving kenyans which is your job by the way that is why we pay millions every month yet you won’t pay taxes and you won’t do your jobs!!! Please refrain from taking people for fools!!!
Sistuki
July 29, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I so hope and pray that the funds being donated through this program are being used accordingly for the right purpose. I hope we are not just making a rich person get richer.
Kalvoh
July 29, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Once again your have failed Uhuru my opinion vet people who surrounds you they are misleading you big time, raging from teachers, police offices,innocent Kenyans are bitter about you coz you seem to serve interest of other people and you expect the same people to vote for You be a man enough and serve the interest of kenyans
Bridgita
July 31, 2011 at 9:39 am
Kalvoh, who is misleading Uhuru? He has a head of his own that he should use to make sense out of the nonsense of those sorrounding him. Accept responsibility and don’t always blame it on others. We voted in Uhuru, not his sorrounders, he is answerable to us not to them. If he’s chosen to listen to them and not to us, we vote in another person and let him go to those who sorround him for his presidential ambitions, period.
George Henry Wahome
July 29, 2011 at 2:47 pm
A political speech, with political correct statements which is LOADS of bull s#@%^ to the common mwananchi who is sleeping hungry and has nothing to live for…
Kim
July 29, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Empty talk from Nairobi, the usual busy-body engagement of GK. Before asking people to donate to the same sink hole that is government, Uhuru should show what the government has achieved with its great budgets. Otherwise if it is not addressing the issue on the ground it’s not people’s direct contributions that will make it do so.
Dmkaberia
July 29, 2011 at 10:49 pm
And you personallyY R you not a Kenyan? Do you pay ua taxes? Have you helped in any way the starving people? Youn want the prezzzo votes? Shame on you!!!!!!
Mwaura Muthinja
July 30, 2011 at 5:30 am
mheshimiwa why why why didn’t your government arrest this situation before it deterioration,why this culture of knee-jack reaction to crises? you stand indicted together with your fellow cabinet members of negligence of the highest order ! we can not ignore the plight of the Kenyan people with kind of altitude, no explanation is enough. Collectively, go soul search before you issue any public comment.
Mwaura Muthinja
July 30, 2011 at 5:32 am
mheshimiwa why why why didn’t your government arrest this situation before it deterioration,why this culture of knee-jack reaction to crises? you stand indicted together with your fellow cabinet members of negligence of the highest order ! we can not ignore the plight of the Kenyan people with this kind of altitude, no explanation is enough. Collectively, go soul search before you issue any public comment.
John-David Odhiambo
July 30, 2011 at 9:02 am
I think this is like covering a face after a spat on the face by your spokesman a Mr.Mutua.Please Kenyatta save me the bull-crap!
hicta
July 30, 2011 at 12:36 pm
There is no need to pay lip service to the dire situation. We know Uhuru cares about no one but himself. I bet he even dragged his feet when funds were sought for the emergency because he had to make sure that no one would exact political mileage from it. He’s one very mean twit.
Njoroge Nginyayu
July 30, 2011 at 5:53 pm
What side of the govt is the minister speaking from? Mr Mutua’s other side? If you are serious go public and demand Mr Mutau be fired! Otherwise the minister should be seen to be catching up with public popular opinion or purely politicking! Prove to us you are serious. Even Kiriamiti or shimoli or that murderer Dalemerer etc can be able to flag food trucks. Such a meanless nonsense. Those trucks should already on the road not waiting the minister to do his mambo jambo!
Bridgita
July 31, 2011 at 9:55 am
“These are times when we have to come together as a people, put aside our differences and realise that we are all Kenyans bound by a common heritage and it is our duty to preserve and uphold the dignity and livelihood of one another.” What hypocrisy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uhuru and most of the current parliamentarians, you should be the last people to pretend to be ‘preserving and uholding the dignity’ of any Kenyan. Your time is overdue in parliament and please, leave and allow those with sincere intentions to serve kenyans to do so peacefully. The more you stay put in there the more damage to kenya. Be gentleman enough and step aside. You can protect your heritage while in private practice, not in public office. You do not know what it means to be starving (dying), and the government tries to shade crocodile tears out of your sorry situation. God is the advocate of those neglected by their own government.
mzalendo2030
July 31, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I am quite surprised by the negative response this blog is getting. We should be encouraging politicians to come out and talk about these issues. That is part of democracy. In a fair democracy you talk then you walk the talk, faith then works, that is democracy!! This crisis is unprecedented in Kenya, No one could have averted this crisis due to many years of lack of investment by the govt and missed opportunities by the business community. We should be suggesting ways this type of crisis could be averted, rather than running good old ifs and discouraging blame game.
Moxaibra
July 31, 2011 at 7:15 pm
spare me the crocodile tears mr kenyatta last thing i want to hear is a politicians talks on the crisis we are facing as a country it’s because of ur ilk that we are where we are. in any sane country you as the finance minister would have already resigned but who i’m i to suggest that kenya is a normal country by any measurement.
koirotweet
July 31, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Uhuru, please spare us the cheap politics. You are the finance minister, deputy PM,and presidential candidate 2012[or is it 2013]. If only you could spend only 10 percent of the energies you use to vilify and fight Raila, this starving issue would have been stillborn. In your last budget, how do you justify NSIS/ military allocations at the expense of starving Kenyans? please RESSSSSIGN.
Shadrack Koskei
July 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I’m proud of all You people. Serving humanity is serving God. Keep it up
Njoki Mburu
July 19, 2012 at 5:20 pm
this is emcouraging to see young people dedicate their life to community service
metrine Namalwa
July 19, 2012 at 5:24 pm
I’m proud of Lukenya pillars of Transformation , if we had such pillars in each village with people with the same passion ,i have no doubt that we would be having a holistic development.
Edel Kinuthia
July 23, 2012 at 1:42 pm
It’s remarkable what this Young Minds have totally come up with…Our society and the immediate community that benefits could not be more blessed by having you around. Kudos guys.
D.K.Smith.
July 24, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Absolutely “on target.” This represents the expression of a primary reason for Daystar University itself to exist; not for prominent careers, but to glorify God through showing Him in life and leading people, through service, to know Him.
nancy
July 26, 2012 at 2:06 pm
this is amazing see wat the Lord has done!,rising to greater heights
Wangari Josephine
August 2, 2012 at 2:54 pm
This is pure testimony that with God…anything is possible……from a dream
…..these are the fruits…..Kudos for the good work!!