THE GOOD AND THE UGLY SIDE OF SGR

The Kenya Standard Gauge Railway is a transport system connecting Kenyan cities. The first segment of the railway between Nairobi and Mombasa was opened in June 2017 which was a passenger rail service and later a freight rail service was opened in January 2018. The SGR runs parallel to the narrow gauge Uganda railway that was completed in 1901 under British colonial rule.  The SGR was designed to enhance transport operations in the country and boost development and economic growth.

President during the opening of the sgr
photo courtesy : Standard Digital

It has brought about alot of impact to the Kenyan economy. Positive impact of the SGR has been felt in Mombasa county. Tourism has improved in the coast region due to the entry of a low cost, comfortable, fast and safe mode of transport to Mombasa. Tourism is a major contributor to the countrys economy. The coast region has been the most popular destination for local tourists but challenges associated with road travel or air travel have been the major hinderance.

It has also brought about job creation. From the individuals who were employed during the SGR construction, to the staff which has been employed the SGR has created job opportunities. There is also indirect job creation through entrepreneurship opportunities poses by the need of goods and services in the sgr. This is mainly through the catering services provided in the rail service. It has also improved Regional trade by linking landlocked countries with the port. It has increased the cost of doing business and increased industrialisation.

In as much as one of it's aim is job creation, it still sends many people back home jobless. The heavy truck drivers are the vague of losing their jobs with the enhanced SGR cargo system that is termed as efficient and reliable. Many companies now prefer their goods being transported by rail hence end up sending thousands of workers in the old cargo system home.

Resettlement because of infrastructure development in Kenya is a common phenomenon. Although those who were displaced during the construction of SGR were compensated, moving from one place to another location can be daunting task even with adequate compensation. It has also brought about market disruption which has led to the collapse of hotels, bars, lodgings and garages.

Madaraka freight train
photo courtesy :Standard Digital

KENYAN FIGHT TO COMBAT THE VIRUS

Corona virus was confirmed in the Chinese City of Wuhan on January 7, 2020. Similar cases have since been confirmed in over 80 countries across the globe with confirmed cases in Africa in Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa but no death case has been recorded in Africa.

There has been a scare around Corona virus landing in the country. Recently,  Kenya has been criticized for letting China flights land amid corona virus scare. The China Southern flight landed a week ago in Nairobi with 239 people on board. The incident came a day after Kenyan government had announced resuming its flight a day ago.  Kenyans raised concern on social media questioning the country's preparedness to deal with corona virus.

High Court thereafter ordered all 239 passengers who had arrived in Kenya to be quarantined at Kenya Defense Forces facility. The Judge said the passengers were to remain to quarantine until they are dully certified free from the virus. This was after two doctors moved to court seeking the Kenyan government blocked from allowing entry of any passengers from China.

Kenya has showed it's preparedness to fight Corona by setting an isolation centre at Mbagathi Hospital with more than 100 beds.  The Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said they have trained over 1,100 health workers and they have been deployed in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other areas.

Mbagathi hospital isolation centre
photo courtesy :google

The health Cabinet Secretary also announced mandatory screening at all entry points to ensure that the country is free from the Virus. The government also suspended direct flights from Nothern Italy where 79 people have died.  Kenyan government has also banned International gatherings in the country for 30 days amid the corona virus outbreak.

Kenyans have been warned against profiling Chinese nationals over corona virus. 'You are Corona virus! ' A shakily video has been circulating on social media showing an Asian man and woman being bullied by a large crowd in Nairobi. The video ends before we see how the incident ended but it was a true depiction of the side effects of corona virus.

THE TWO SIDES OF A COIN

Campus life,  this is a term that has not been new throughout my entire life. When I was a little girl, my older siblings would really talk about campus but it was I was too little to understand.  Then I joined highschool, there was so much buzz about campus life, literally everybody wanted to go to campus, sadly not everyone gets the opportunity to experience campus life.  When I heard that I was going to campus, I was overwhelmed. It was like a dream come true for me.

The first week in campus was kind of confusing for me because I was all alone seeing new faces and everybody was minding their own business. It was nothing that I thought it would be, but as time went by I started making friends. I must admit what I saw when I first stepped into the University was so different from what I thought it would be. The institution had more space and well organized.  A beautiful place with alot of students.

 A view of the Technical University of Mombasa 

The transition from highschool to campus life was a bit difficult but I had to learn  like missing some classes because I stayed out too late the night before.Not the same case with highschool where the teacher could remind the students when certain assignments were due on time.  I learnt the hard way. 'Amkeni mapema sasa hivi mkifika campus mtalala, ' the teachers who used to tell us this phrase while in highschool did not explain the other part of the campus life.

Campus life is full of entertainment and sorts of activities both good and bad. This is simply because students got free time which one can use to shape their life or mess with it . No one gets bored hanging out with friends but the company that you involve yourself in determines your future. Having an experience in campus life, most of the students get indulged into some bad behaviours like drug abuse.

The path that I  as a campus student choose to take is up to me. I believe that the place that a person can have as much is through campus  but I must limit some other type of fun that may end up crushing what I have worked for all my life due to peer pressure.

My experience in campus has been fun. I do not regret. I have made great friends, friends that I believe that even when I get out of campus we may or will stick around for one another. I believe that there is life after campus and what a person experiences in campus will affect  the outside life, it could be through love and friendship. Campus life teaches alot from the bad to the good. It is upto a person to decide how much good a person will take from such a life.

a photo with my campus friends