Girls have been been cited as potentially stable to do well in STEM courses after they emerged the best in Mathematics Contest that was conducted at the University of Embu.

Neema Nyakisio from Kangaru Girls' school being rewarded the best student during Maths Contest in the University of Embu./MWINGI TIMES

The contest had brought together 25 schools in Embu County where both boys and girls wrestled for mathematics.

However, boys were outsmarted by girls with the female gender proving beyond expectations their mastery in mathematics with different techniques and formulae.

While addressing the press after the contest, Dr. Kawira Millien the Dean School of Pure and Applied Sciences at the University of Embu noted that girls are on the right trajectory of excelling in STEM courses after their exemplary performance in the contest.

“ I am impressed that the girls are coming up from the sample of schools in Embu County and I am confident they are on the right path of excelling in STEM courses,” she said.

She said the biggest responsibility they have is now to help the boys rise in Mathematics to ensure equity.

Dr Millien noted that 70% of the courses that students choose before joining university are mathematically bound and that there is need to consider emphasizing more on the importance of more seriousness in Mathematics.

“The boys are an important aspect of our learning and teaching and the indication of today, calls us to seriously get on the ground and get the boy child on board ," she said adding that an elaborate mechanisms has to be put in place by education stakeholders in the county so as to ensure that there is equity in the performance of mathematics for both girls and boys.

Further, she said the ability by girls to outshine the boys is a clear indication that the perception that mathematics was made for boys is an outdated narrative.

Dr. Samuel Ndirangu the Dean School of Agriculture who represented the Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi said that the Mathematics Contest will be a yearly contest and that it was necessitated by the need to promote Mathematics in various schools in Embu County because most students find it difficult to attain a minimum of C+ that is needed for them to pursue courses that mathematics is needed.

Kangaru Girls' school teachers receive a trophy of the best school in the Maths Contest held at University of Embu./MWINGI TIMES

"Many students find it difficult to attain C+ in mathematics and when they come to pick courses we advice them to take course which mathematics requirement is minimal and that is why we want to create more interests in mathematics," he said.

Dr Dominic Kitavi who heads the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Embu noted that the Maths Contests would help many students have more interests in Mathematics.

He noted that many careers have been lost due to poor performance in Mathematics and there is need to have more mechanisms to salvage the lost careers .

He said there will annual Maths Contests in the institution to encourage student to take Mathematics with ease as any other subject.

Neema Nyakisio, a student from Kangaru Girls' secondary school who was declared the overall winner for the contest said that her love for Mathematics practice has made it possible for her to excel in the discipline.

She called on boys in various schools in Embu to embrace the subject and also to ensure that they do more practice so that they can excel in Mathematics.

Other schools that did well in the contest include All Saints Boys' high school, St Angelas Nguviu Girls' among others .

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Two poisonous illicit brews have made able-bodied men in Nziitu village, Tseikuru township waste away lazing around drinking dens all days at the cost of their health.

Mwendwa*  middle-aged man tells MWINGI TIMES that Nguso and Mukacha are the worst illicit brews in this region. "Nguso and Mukacha burn our lungs and liver" , he says having had his friends fall victim to the unregulated alcohol industry.

Mwendwa goes on to reveal that for a new client, Nguso is too strong a drink that the new customer cannot finish a cup of the brew.

"If you take one cup of Nguso, you can't ask for more since you will not finish it. It makes you lack appetite to eat food", says the youth who also does casual labour of keeping livestock in the area.

In a drunken stupor, Mwendwa brags that he doesn't feel any side effects of Nguso since he "is used to it". But he asks for KSh20 to go and take a cup of the illicit brew.

We visited the drinking dens and the drunkards told us that police have aided the mushrooming of illicit brews in Nziitu. This is by, they say, coming to the drinking dens to solicit for bribes twice a week. 

With Tseikuru town being one of the largest markets in Kitui County, Thursdays are marked by many Nguso and Mukacha clients who pass by their favourite places to ask for some cups of the illicit brews.

Mawa and Kaluvu, the Ukambani traditional brews face "stiff competition" from these foreign and more consequential drinks. They are prepared by use of sour millet.

All the illicit drink preparation is done by women while most drunken customers are men.  

However, there is price standardization where all the brews here cost KSh20 per cup.

A police officer who requested anonymity wondered why the illicit brews cannot be eradicated from Tseikuru.

Jesse Wahiguru attributes the burning of lungs and livers of customers in Tseikuru to rogue suppliers most of who come from Meru County. "Soon I'll look for a license to supply nguco unga. Nimeona mnaletewa ile chafu"

*Name changed to protect the identity of the  illicit brews user.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

Heavy rains seem to have visited most of Kitui County throughout Sunday. The rains started on Saturday night.

Members of the public watch as a Bodaboda rider and a good Samaritan try to rescue a motorbike from sinking in Kavingo river in Kitui Rural. It was eventually swept away by the raging waters./MWINGI TIMES 

A motorbike was swept by floods at Kavingo river that lies between Kyua and Kiusyani villages in Kitui Rural constituency.

The Bodaboda riders pushing it across the river escaped unhurt as residents watched the goings on. One residents wondered loudly, "Aki ya mbene isu niyai. (I'm sure they have lost the motorbike to the raging floods).

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

It has emerged that Mwingi Level IV Hospital is struggling to handle the huge number of patients drawn from the three larger Mwingi constituencies and the huge number of accident victims from the region which has left the hospital in a bad state.

From left; Kitui Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya, Mwingi Central MCA Bernard Munyasya, and Mwingi Level IV Med Sup Dr. Evans Mumo during a tour of Mwingi hospital by Kitui MCAs on Friday, March 24, 2023.

These details emerged during a tour of the hospital by a delegation of Kitui MCAs led by the Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya.

According to the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr. Evans Mumo, some of the challenges facing the hospital range from inadequate staffing, water shortages as well a lack of freezers at the hospital mortuary.

The Med Sup said that the hospital morgue which was constructed over 40 years ago has the capacity to handle only 9 bodies at a time, but currently, it handles over 30 bodies in a day and even the three freezers in the morgue have all failed.

Dr. Mumo urged the County Assembly of Kitui to always consider the facility during any budget-making process and oversee the completion of stalled projects in the hospital which include a newborn mother-child unit and a morgue which has left the hospital struggling.

Area MCA Bernard Munyasya promised to push for proper equipping of the hospital as well as completion of the stalled projects, most of which were started by the current government during his first term.

The MCA’s remarks were echoed by Kitui Speaker Kevin Kinengo who promised his full support in ensuring that Mwingi Level IV Hospital is properly considered in all budgets.

He said that the County Assembly of Kitui was aware of the challenges facing the hospital and that lasting solutions would be sought to remedy the situation.

STORY By BONIFACE MWANIKI

The plot's mystery leaves much to imagination. However, that appears to be water under the bridge as Tobi moved on from the Zainabu affair he shared with Mr Baraza, a wealthy Mbaba who is Tina's father on set. Welcome to #BRATHESERIES, the twelfth episode.

What we know from MWINGI TIMES ENTERTAINMENT is that Zainabu is forcing things. Two, Alex is still struggling to speak for himself since he comes off as unconvincing and doesn't inspire confidence.

Zainabu's error should be forgiven since she was keeping Tobi at great risk, as it were. Now that Tobi has a new catch (Konsah), he thinks Zainabu is past tense. Thankless! 

Zainabu doesn't let go easily as she gives her last shot, thus, "I'm sorry Tobi. Give me another chance". 

The only weakness Zainabu has is that she is very comical. In the middle of a serious business, she can start giggling and this irritates those who don't get her jokes. Somehow.

In trying to chase Baraza, Zainabu lost Tobi to Konsah.  On the other hand, Alex deserves losing both Tina and Konsah.

It's Sammy on the receiving end of this food chain since he is currently "homeless".

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI