THE BETTING FAD

BY STELLA LELMET

It is of public notoriety that the economic times we live in has hit us hard in the face. Money rules us. Wealth is the epitome. It gets you everything; property, votes, court favors and women. Money has been deified and is the new age god. And it is a proven fact. The farce and pathos of the people who hold the collective responsibility of the society are busy frittering away public funds and dipping their long fingers in the public coffers to appease their never ending maggot appetites. Blatant corruption has become a tad. Everyday news is theft, with no one sleeping behind bars.

The common Mwananchi is no different. Thuggery is on the rise. Consequently, the blue boys  are having the time of their lives, shooting at whim at whoever is dimmed a suspect. Fortunately or unfortunately, thug life has been left for the hard hearted and those willing to harbor steel bullets in their bodies. The majority of law abiding citizens have discovered a new short cut to success. Betting. A path to wealth accumulation with no violence and no bullet-ducking runs.

Betting has already had a choke-hold on our society, everyone is doing it. A quick conversation with Rodney Ndirangu, a sales officer, affirmed to this. "Betting is the thing now. We call it the new investment platform. Last week I banked 19,800/- after only staking five hundred shillings," a smiling Ndirangu boasted showing me his bet slip.

"Is it that your salary doesn`t fend for you?" I wanted to know.

"No, no. My salary is satisfactory but nothing will ever slake the insatiable thirst for money," he confirmed.

Tempted, I fumbled in my pocket and whipped out a two hundred shilling note. I needed to try this, or rather, the temptation of making a few hundred quick bucks was too great to wave away. I was upbeat about this. I signed up in one of the many betting firms, mulled over which team to risk on and staked my two hundred shillings on an away win. The team, Al- Shabaab. Not the infamous rag-tag militia dimwit, but the Saudi Arabian team. 90 minutes elapsed and my account balanced screamed, Ksh 492. An extra 292 bob. Just like that. Can you imagine what I would have pocketed if I risked my five thousand bob allowance? A whooping 12, 300/- would have padded my account. Now I understand the thrill of betting. Truth be told though. The losses superceede the gains.

"Betting comes with its fair share of losses," Ndirangu advised," Yesterday I lost a thousand bob."

" Na ni team moja iliniangusha." he added. A hackneyed excuse that has become a Kenyan proverb.

Weekly jackpots tremendously increases, a fact backing up my sentiment. 

Students are the most affected. They have brood a penchant for gambling. Cashing in their pocket money for a quick gamble. Needless to say, most of their winning money, heck, all of their winning money is spent on booze and carnal pleasure. It gets serious when rent money is gambled and lost leaving them in incessant quibbles with the landlords. I`m left wondering, if educated graduates prefer shorter routes to affluence, what will our future hold for us? These same graduates are the same people we shall rely on to take the mantle of leadership. Take a moment and wonder what Kenya will look like if these dead woods are the breed we shall rely upon. Your guess is as good as mine. We shall be doomed, if we already aren`t. It is worth noting that students should operate from an elevated pedestal and exercise maximum responsibility. That is what is expected of learned comrades.

The betting firms are the only stakeholders who are having a party with this betting agitation. Stealing money from the pockets of participators. I call it stealing because that`s what it is. No wonder the Government wanted a chunk of this large cake by introducing taxes on winning bets. They too are smiling all the way to the treasury.

Betting has only served to make our youths lazy bums, lolling about with the hope of getting rich through betting. In my ken, betting is NO path to success. Hard work and determination is what gets you successful. Money needs you to sweat. Sopping balls of sweat. Well, not really, but you get the point.

Get going and work! Nothing sweet ever comes easy.

VASITY EXPOSED

By Stella Lelmet

The slow smooth ride into the gates of Moi University would make you think that you are entering the proverbial paradise. Quite literally. The tall leafy trees adjourning the gate are a sight to behold and the well trimmed flower fences are expertly chopped and shaped to give the impression of a plaque. Trees of different shapes and sizes direct you to the ever-great cream-painted building housing the administration.

But beauty is skin-deep, right? Let not the trees fool you. Yes, they are gorgeous and all but that is besides the point. The beauty nature graciously blesses our beloved university is mere pretense. A shallow one for that matter. You know the beauty of a woman through her heart. Not through her inner thighs. And Moi University is always the arrogant, pretentious lady who celebrates and marvels at showcasing her inner thighs. Not her ugly heart that stinks and reeks of whatnot.

The trash and garbage dotting the Moi University Main Campus is one hell of a Dandora-type garbage disposal pit. Is it that no workers are employed to do this? No, we have lots of garden cleaners, who unfortunately only get their old rickety legs in the compound come end month. How do i know this, you ask? I have no affidavit to support my sentiments but evidence is there for all who care to see. Trash. Rubbish. Everywhere.

The hostels are dungeons of the stinking devils themselves. You need only be at a spitting distance to brave the strong foul stench emanating from  the hostels. How do people even live in there? Weeks and weeks of rubbish are left uncollected as the heap tremendously rises. Let us even not talk about the washrooms. I`ll probably need another blog.

Water shortages and inadequate power supply are other alarming factors that need immediate response lest the university should be closed down. Due to the university's poor condition student's demonstrate from time to time. Worse still, no action has ever been taken by the school management. Student leaders are also lazing around. They are nowhere to be found to fight for the welfare of fellow comrades.

Current condition at D houses. 

Dirt littering everywhere.