Kenya47:Everything about Kenya.: April 2011

Why KCSE superstars are headed west.

By now, the dust on KCSE results has settled and few people remember even remember the names of the top stars. However, just a week after the release of the KCSE results, some 400 medical students held a demonstration demanding to be posted. The medical student graduates are through their studies and want to be posted. The Health ministry is awaiting some 400 Million shillings or thereabouts in order to post them. These were the same students that appeared on TV screens with joy as they let the nation know their ambitions of becoming a doctor. This is perhaps why; some students have given the local employment scene a wide berth. Such students get the basic education in Kenya and receive the advanced education and professional refinement in the west. Google searches on the students who topped KCSE in the 1990s and the 2000s.

A simple Google search on top student in KCSE 1989, Naeem Samnakay (Alliance High School), reveals that he went to Australia to pursue medical studies.

A search on the top student in 1990, Fred Were, from Starehe, reveals that he went to the US for further studies and is a now a medical researcher there.

A search on Gilbert Tengetta, from Mang’u High School and top student in 1992,

reveals that he went to the US to pursue engineering studies where he is up to date. Similarly ,some of the other top students went to various western universities.

They include:

-Kirimani Murithi-(Read about Kirimania Murithi's story here)Alliance High School-MIT.

Timothy Thairu-Alliance High school(KCSE 1998)- Harvard

Samuel Gikandi(KCSE)1999-Alliance High school-MIT.

Dhar Tishampati (KCSE 2000) –Mang’u High school –University of Adelaide

Amit Monga- Starehe Boys center-(KCSE 2001)–McGill University

Hillary Mucheru-(Nguviu Boys)KCSE 2001-Harvard

Isaac Nyang’olo –(Mang’u)KCSE 2001-Harvard

Paul Bundi(kenyakine High school), the top student in our year(2002) was actually the first KCSE top student to study in the country. Enrolled at UON for medical degree. The main reason could be that he came from a lesser known school and did not know how to apply to some of the universities in the west.

James Kandie Rotich-Moi High school kabarak-MIT

Some of the other students without remembering the years that they left high school include:

-Zawadi Lemayian (Read Zawadi Lemayian's story here) –Alliance Girls High school-MIT

-Paul K Njoroge –(Read Paul K Njoroge's story here)Starehe Boys Center-Who went to MIT before becoming a become a Rhodes scholar.

-Wanjiku Mungai-Precious Blood Girls-Harvard(Currently a freshman)

-John Kimani kamau (Read John Kimani's Harvard student's blog)–Nairobi School-Harvard (Currently a freshman)
-Anthony Mabonga-Alliance High School- Currently at Harvard

-Brian Oduor -Alliance High school-Yale Graduate student

-Dennis Okumu Ouma-Alliance High school- MIT-who completed his undergraduate through PhD in just eight years.he has several engineering patents.
-Irene Murimi -MIT
-Martin Mbaya-Alliance High School-MIT/Harvard
Given that this is just a small sample, how many students could actually have left? Your guess is as good as mine. Of course, some will start proclaiming about patriotism but in the current globalized world, competition for talent is stiff and talented people will move to areas where they feel their skills are appreciated. equally important, such universities as Harvard have huge endowments and our local universities may be unable to compete for the KCSE cream. Such students get full scholarships and a return ticket which they are unwilling to use to come back to their home countries. Thus, do not be surprised when last years top boy Albert Wandui kamau and top girl Mwangasha Lydia katini follow the same trends.

Download JAB Weighted cluster points table

Tourism in Kenya.

As you are about to embark on touring Kenya, you will need a few facts so that you can enjoy your stay in Kenya. Tourism is one of the major foreign exchange earners in Kenya and as such, the government has taken many steps in order to encourage tourism in Kenya.

Kenya is a country that is located in the east coast of Africa. The country’s president is Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister is Raila Odinga.The official language is English although Kiswahili is the most widely spoken language. The capital city is Nairobi. Other major towns include Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret.It would help if you mastered some few Kiswahili words before touring Kenya. For instance,’Habari yako’ means ‘How are you?’. On the other hand,’Asante sana’ means ‘Thank you very much’. In general Kenyans are hospitable people although such words will make you appear as friendly.

The local currency is the Kenya shilling (Kshs).One US dollar exchanges at a rate of between kshs.70 to 80 shillings. When visiting Kenya, it is important to carry some upfront money. There are many forex bureaus in the capital city. You can also exchange your money in the banks which are spread throughout the country. If you are intent on using an ATM to withdraw your money, then Barclays bank is the most reliable since it accepts almost all global cards. It accepts Visa, mastercard, visa electron, American express and a host of other cards. It is also spread throughout the country.CFC stanbic bank is also reliable although it is only found in the major towns.

Tourism in Kenya has many aspects. You can choose to go to and visit the beautiful coastline with sandy beaches. An example of such a beach a beach is the Diani beach. You can also sight see the wildlife and the big five animals are a common occurrence in the country.Lions, elephants, giraffes; gazelles are a common occurrence in the national parks. There are over fifty national parks in the country each with its own diversity. The most famous national park is the Massai Mara. It is home to the annual wildebeest migration that sees over a million wildebeests cross over to the Tanzanian side every year. The migration occurs in July/August. Kenya is also home to the Rift valley which ahs many beautiful escarpments. There are also prehistoric sites such as Hells Gate and the Olduvai Gorge. There are many fresh water lakes such as Lake Nakuru, Naivasha, Baringo, Victoria that offer rich flora and fauna. There are other biodiversities such as the rare plant species in kakamega forest. The major mountains in the country are Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon.Many rivers flow from these mountains. Of course, tourism in Kenya will not be complete without interaction with the local community.

If you plan on touring Kenya, then you have to do so in advance. The temperatures are warm throughout the year and average about 20-25 degrees. Sunshine is always out although it may be les during the rainy seasons sometime between April and June. There are cheap flights to Kenya and it will be important to book early. The national carrier is Kenya airways. Other airlines that ply the Kenyan route include Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Qatar Airways. There are plenty of hotels in the country in which you can be accommodated. Some of the international hotels include Hilton hotel, Intercontinental hotel, sarova Stanley hotel, Norfolk hotel etc.Hope you will find tourism in Kenya to be a very nice experience.

Mombasa Kenya hotels.

Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya. It is located on the Kenyan coast and is renowned for its beautiful coastline and sandy beaches. The weather is warm and the average temperatures are between 22 and 28 degrees. It is the ultimate Kenyan holiday destination. Before going for a holiday in Kenya, it is important that you consider the many hotels and accommodation that are on offer. Some of the most famous hotels and beach resorts are outlined below:

-Sun ‘n Sand Beach resort

This is located in the kikambaka area near Mombasa.It has beautiful gardens,trees and environment with a fantastic ocean scenery that allows for a pleasant relaxation.

-Mombasa Serena beach hotel

This is a beach resort that is located in the banks of a river. The charm and the environment are really captivating and will allow you to just relax and watch the beautiful blue ocean.

-Whitesands beach hotel

The Whitesands beach hotel has the longest seafront in the east African coast. The Whitesands is located in Mombasa and just overlooks the bamburi beach.

-Neptune beach hotel

This beach hotel just overlooks the bamburi beach. You will take twenty minutes to drive from the old Mombasa town to the beach.

-Indian Ocean club

The architecture of this building is Swahili-style. The hotel has about 100 thatched cottages.

-Voyager beach resort

The voyager beach resort is located in the Whitesands of the Nyali beach. It is close to the major tourist attractions in the Kenyan coast.

-Kipungani explorer beach hotel

This is a very rustic and natural beach. You will get to enjoy the nice breeze from the comfort of the hotel.

Of course, the above are not the only Mombasa Kenya hotels. There are plenty of others.

Safari holidays in Kenya.

There are many safari holidays in Kenya and it will be worthwhile to explore a few so that you can plan well for your holiday in Kenya. Kenya is known for the excellent wildlife and especially the big five animals. Some of the excellent safaris include:

Masai Mara safari holiday

Masai Mara is the most famous national park in the country. It boasts of the annual wildebeest migration. This spectacular migration has been described as a wonder of the world. Every year, over a million wildebeests cross back and forth from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya creating a spectacular scenery. Even though there is minor migration all year round, the greatest occurs in July/August and it is during this time that you are likely to watch the spectacular scene.

Amboseli and Tsavo national park.

This is a very large national park boasting of the big five animals and a rich flora and fauna. There are also other national parks such as Nairobi and samburu that also allow you to see wildlife in its entirety.

Bird watching.

You can conveniently watch birds in the many bird sanctuaries in the country. For instance, Lake Naivasha is renowned for the many species of birds that it harbors.

Rift valley tours and packages.

The Great Rift Valley runs from northern Kenya all the way to Tanzania. In the Rift valley, you will see beautiful escarpments. For instance, the Rift valley view point allows you to see very deep valleys. Rift Valley also boasts many of the country’s fresh water lakes such as Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Turkana, Lake Naivasha among others. The Rift valley also boasts the prehistoric sites such as Hell’s gate and Olduvai Gorge. These sites are thought to be the caves where the early man resided.

Beach Holidays

The Kenyan coastline has many sandy beaches that will allow you to relax and enjoy your stay in the country. Of course, these are not the only safari holidays in Kenya and it is important to find out form your safari tour operator for the best deals. Many do offer excellent discounts especially if you are visiting many places at the same time.

Wildlife in Kenya-Where they are found.

One of the many reasons that people holiday in Kenya is to see wildlife. Wildlife in Kenya is spread across the many national parks in the country. Though each national park has different types of wildlife, there are some animals that can be easily found in the national parks.

One of the most captivating animal that is found in Kenya’s national parks is the lion. It is found in over half of the national parks in the country. The other major animals found in the parks include elephant, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, leopard, gazelle, wildebeest etc.The Masai Mara is the most famous national park/reserve in the country. It is home to the annul wildebeest migration that sees about one million wildebeests cross over from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya. The spectacular scene can be seen most clearly in the July/August period. However, there are small migrations that occur all year round.

Lake Nakuru and Naivasha boast of several bird species that are rare to find anywhere in the world. Other national parks in the country include:

1. Central Kenya Highlands & Great Rift Valley

Hell's Gate National Park
Mt Longonot National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Bogaria National Reserve
Lake Kamnarok National Reserve
Aberdare National Park
Mt Kenya National Park
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
Mwea National Reserve

Western Kenya

Mt Elgon National Park
Kerio Valley National Reserve
Saiwa Swamp National Park
Kakamega Forest National Reserve
Ruma National Park
Ndere Island National Park
Kisumu Impala Sanctuary

Northern Kenya

Meru National Park
Bisanadi National Reserve
Kora National Reserve
Rahole National Reserve
Mwingi National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Shaba National Reserve
Maralal Game Sanctuary
Laikipia Game Sanctuary
Marsabit National Reserve
Losai National Reserve
South Turkana National Reserve
Nasalot National Reserve
Sibiloi National Park
Central Island National Park
South Island National Park
Malkamari National Park

Southern Kenya

Tsavo East National Park
South Kitui National Reserve
Tsavo West National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park
Amboseli National Park

Kenya Coast

Mombasa National Park and Reserve
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Kisite Marine National Park
Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve
Diani/Chale Marine National Park and Reserve
Malindi Marine Park and Reserve
Watamu Marine Park and Reserve
Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Dodori National Reserve
Boni National Reserve
Tana River Primate Reserve
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve

Arewale National reserve.

Holiday in Kenya.

As you begin to prepare for your holiday in Kenya, it is important that you know all the information needed so as to have a pleasant holiday experience. Kenya is a country that is located in the east coast of Africa. It is roughly the size of California. It has a population of 40 million and the president is Mwai kibaki while the prime minister is Raila Odinga.The official language is English although Kiswahili is the most widely spoken language. Nearly every Kenyan can speak Kiswahili. It would be helpful to know some Kiswahili words. For instance’habari yako’means “How are you?”,”Asante sana” means “Thank you very much”. The capital city of the country is Nairobi. The other major towns are Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.There are 42 tribes in the country. The major tribes are the Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, kalenjin and kamba.

When you go for a holiday in Kenya, it is important that you carry some cash around. The Kenyan currency is the Kenyan shilling. One US dollar exchanges for between kshs.70 and kshs.80.There are many forex bureaus in the capital city from which you can exchange your money. There are also many ATMs from which you can withdraw your money. Barclays bank accepts most of the global cards. It accepts Visa, mastercard, visa electron, American express among other cards.CFC stanbic bank also accepts most of the global cards although it is only available in the major towns.

One of the reasons that people choose to have their holiday in Kenya is because of the many tourist attractions sites. For instance, Kenya has a beautiful coastline with sandy beaches that you can comfortably relax in as you bask in the sun. The sand beaches are located in the coastal cities of Mombasa, malindi, Lamu among others. There are also some famous beach resorts such as the malindi beach resort owned by the Italian billionaire Flavio Braitoire.

The wildlife in the country is simply amazing and is one of the reasons that people holiday in Kenya. There are over fifty national parks in the country. Many of them do contain the big five animals. It will not be uncommon for you to see lions, giraffes, elephants etc as you visit a national park.Massai Mara is the most famous national park and is renowned for the annual wildebeest migration that occurs around July/August. During this time, millions of wildebeest cross over river Mara to Serengeti in Tanzania. The Rift valley is also a great site as it has many escarpments. You can also climb Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon that provide breathtaking sites for tourists.

Before you fly in for a holiday in Kenya, it is important that you obtain a Kenyan tourist visa. The visa fees were slashed recently and it is almost free now. There are many flights to Kenya. The national carrier is Kenya Airways. Other airlines that ply the Kenyan route are Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Qatar Airways. There are many hotels in which can seek accommodation. Some of the international hotels include: Hilton Hotel, Hotel Intercontinental, sarova Stanley, sarova Stanley etc.All the best as you enjoy your holiday in Kenya.

National Parks in Kenya.

As you plan to holiday in Kenya, you will find many national parks that will captivate you. As a start, there are over fifty national parks in the country each with its own rich diversity. If you want an excellent safari package, then you are likely to get one. National parks in Kenya are spread throughout.

-Masai Mara National park.

This is the most famous national park and is home to the annual wildebeest migration. Each year, over a million wildebeests cross back and forth from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya. This spectacular scene has been described as a wonder of the world. Though there are small migrations throughout the year, the main migration occurs in July/August and hence it’s appropriate that you time your visit well to coincide with this. There are also the big animals in the park and you shouldn’t be surprised to see lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes grazing by as you tour the park.

Nairobi National park

The Nairobi national park is the only park in the world that is located in a capital city. It is fairly large and boasts all the big five animals. It would probably be your first stop as you alight at the JKIA airport (the country’s main aiport).

Hell’s gate National park

This is renowned for the prehistoric sites that are thought to be the caves for the early man. It is a favorite visit for those interested in early man’s history and archeology.

Lake Nakuru national park.

Lake Nakuru is a fresh water lake and has a rich biodiversity. For instance, there are many bird species in the lake. It is a favorite attraction for those interested in bird ecology.

Lake Bogoria national park. This is renowned for its hot springs.

Other national parks in the country are as listed below:

1. Central Kenya Highlands & Great Rift Valley

Hell's Gate National Park
Mt Longonot National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Bogaria National Reserve
Lake Kamnarok National Reserve
Aberdare National Park
Mt Kenya National Park
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
Mwea National Reserve

Western Kenya

Mt Elgon National Park
Kerio Valley National Reserve
Saiwa Swamp National Park
Kakamega Forest National Reserve
Ruma National Park
Ndere Island National Park
Kisumu Impala Sanctuary

Northern Kenya

Meru National Park
Bisanadi National Reserve
Kora National Reserve
Rahole National Reserve
Mwingi National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Shaba National Reserve
Maralal Game Sanctuary
Laikipia Game Sanctuary
Marsabit National Reserve
Losai National Reserve
South Turkana National Reserve
Nasalot National Reserve
Sibiloi National Park
Central Island National Park
South Island National Park
Malkamari National Park

Southern Kenya

Tsavo East National Park
South Kitui National Reserve
Tsavo West National Park
Chyulu Hills National Park
Amboseli National Park

Kenya Coast

Mombasa National Park and Reserve
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Kisite Marine National Park
Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve
Diani/Chale Marine National Park and Reserve
Malindi Marine Park and Reserve
Watamu Marine Park and Reserve
Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Dodori National Reserve
Boni National Reserve
Tana River Primate Reserve
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve
Arewale National Reserve

Kenya beaches-Some of the best beaches in Kenya

A holiday in Kenya will not be complete without touring the county’s famed beaches. Kenya beaches are lined with coral reefs that are protective; thus providing an ideal environment for swimming and water sports. The beaches are spread from Mombasa to lamu, to malindi and Watamu and through to lamu.You can also go for diving and big game fishing. Kenya has a beautiful coastline and the sandy beaches provide good relaxation.Malindi and Watamu are favorite tourist attractions as they have beautiful beaches and large marine reserves. On the northern front of Lamu, there is Kiwayu Island which is known worldwide for being a place that is frequented by the rich and famous. There is sunshine all year round although it might be less during the rainy season. The average temperature in Kenya is between 20-25 degrees Celsius. This makes it very ideal for one to enjoy a beach holiday in Kenya.

Some of the accommodation near Kenya beaches includes:

Sun ‘n Sand Beach resort

This is located in Kikambaka near Mombasa.There are beautiful gardens and palm trees, with blue ocean allowing for a pleasant relaxation.

Mombasa Serena beach hotel

This beach hotel is set under trees in the banks of a river. The charm will be exciting and will allow you to refresh well.

Whitesands beach hotel

The Whitesands has the longest seafront in the East African coast. It is located just north of Mombasa just overlooking the bamburi beach

Neptune Beach hotel

The Neptune beach hotel is located just overlooking the bamburi beach. It will take you 20 minutes to drive from the old Mombasa town

Indian Ocean Club

This beach is designed in the Swahili-style. It has one hundred rooms in clusters of thatched cottages.

Voyager beach resort

This is set on the white sands of the Nyali beach. It is very close to the major tourists attractions in Kenya’s coast.

Kipungani explorer beach hotel

This is a rustic and natural beach. It has nice breezes that allow for a comfortable relaxation as you enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Kenya safari packages.

As you holiday in Kenya, it is only natural that you enquire about the safari packages in Kenya. There are many Kenya safari packages available and in deed Kenya is one of the countries in the world that have a very rich flora and fauna. You are bound to be fascinated by the many packages on offer.

Wildebeest Migration safari package.

Every year, millions of wildebeest cross back and forth from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya’s Massai Mara. It is a breathtaking scene to watch. It is important to time your trip well as the intensity of migration depends on many factors such as the amount of rain.However, the largest migration occurs around July/August every year.

National parks safari packages.

There are over fifty national parks in the country, each with its own rich diversity. The most famous is the Massai Mara and if you have visited Kenya without visiting the Massai Mara, then many consider that you really did not visit the country. Other safari packages include the Amboseli Wildlife tour,samburu&the Great Lakes, Rift valley lakes, Mount Kenya climbing, bird watching especially in Naivasha which has different species of birds.

There are also beach holiday packages that will captivate you. Kenya has a beautiful coastline with sunny beaches that will ensure your comfort as you relax. There are also exclusive beach resorts such as the malindi beach resort owned by the Italian billionaire Flavio Braitoire.

The Great Rift Valley that stretches from Ethiopia through Kenya to Tanzania is very captivating. You will view beautiful escarpments and great prehistoric sites such as the Hells gate and the Olduvai Gorge which are believed to be the caves where the early man resided.

National schools in Kenya-Do they enhance inequalities in Kenyan high schools.

Each year as the KCPE exams are being done, many students hope that they will secure places in the exclusive Kenyan Ivy League high schools, otherwise known as national schools. Many a parent will sacrifice everything to see their son or daughter attend one of these schools. Many people quite rightly think that by just attending these schools, their otherwise average student will quickly become an A student.

Their assertions might in deed be true as many students do in deed pass highly in many of these schools. For instance, the Alliance High school alone posted 104 As in the 2009 KCSE exam. This represents just about 12% of the total number of A students in the entire country. How is it possible that one school alone produces such a large number of As that even a whole province cannot? Now, if all the students decided to apply for admission places at the University Of Nairobi’s medical school, then the whole medical class could be filled with students from only one school. Still, you have not added about fifty or so As from starehe, 20 something each from Mang’u, Nairobi school, Lenana, Alliance Girls, Loreto Limuru among others.This certainly paints a very depressing picture.Granted, there are some provincial schools that give the national schools a run for their money. Schools such as Precious Blood, Friends school kamusinga, Lugulu Girls among others do indeed post excellent results.

One may argue that national schools pick students from every corner in the country and this helps students in the underprivileged areas to access quality education. While this was undeniably true in some years past, the only diversity that exists nowadays is regional diversity. In terms of economic class, the students are largely the same. As the quality of public primary schools continues to deteriorate, the huge inequalities are likely to be enhanced.Granted, their will be few exceptions here and there but the socio economic class of the students will remain the same.Perhaps, the alumni from these schools should be encouraged to give back to the schools so that they can admit more students from the underprivileged areas. This will ensure that the schools will admit the most gifted students without regard to their ability to pay.

Of course, not all students who attend national schools pass.However, even for those that fail to make the grade, most likely they come from privileged backgrounds and can still afford to pay for studies in private universities, join parallel degree programmes or go for studies abroad.

Kenya Passport application

As a Kenyan, in order to travel/immigrate abroad, you need a Kenyan passport. Unlike a National ID card, any Kenyan citizen can apply for a passport regardless of age. There are certain basic minimum requirements that one will need to have before they can be issued with a passport. The Kenya Passport application process is fairly simple.

-One will need to fill in the necessary application forms.

-You will also need to provide evidence of Kenyan citizenship. Such documents will include naturalization, registration, birth certificates,ID card.These documents will need originals as well as photocopies.

-A photograph which is taken full face. The photo should not have head-scuff or wigs. In addition, the photos will need to have been taken within the last six months of the passport application date.

-You will need to appear in person for the for the online photo capture.

-You will be required to pay an application fee of kshs.5450 (As of the year 2009).The

Kenya passport is valid for ten years after which one will be required to renew it. If one is in a foreign country, they may apply for the Kenyan passports when based in the Kenyan embassy of the particular country. In Kenya, application is mainly done through the immigration office in Nyayo house. Recently, the Kenya Passport application process has become quite accessible as one can apply while based in towns such as Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu. Normally, one waits for about one month before they can get their passport. However, in cases of emergency, such as urgent medical attention, one can get the passport in just a few days provided they prove the urgency of the situation.

Kenya Police certificate of Good Conduct application process.

A Kenya Police certificate of good conduct is required n many facets of public life nowadays. For instance, if you need to apply for most senior positions in government, you will be asked for the certificate of good conduct. Kenya Police certificate of Good Conduct application process is fairly easy and straight forward. The certificate of good conduct essentially indicates that you have no criminal record. You are thus fit to hold many of the senior appointments in the country. The recent escapades of Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi ‘Sonko’ have demonstrated the need for public officials past records to be checked thoroughly. Equally important, jobs n the security sector and other highly sensitive jobs require one to have the certificate of good conduct. Even househelps and shamba boys are nowadays required to have the certificate of good conduct. You will need the following n order to get the Kenya Police certificate of good conduct.

-Original ID and its photocopy. Note that passports are not accepted.

-An application fee paid to the CID offices or the regional offices.

-Have the finger prints and the palm prints taken.

For a person who is below 18 years of age, they will need the following;

-Original and photocopy of the birth certificate.

-An application fee of kshs.1000.

-Have the finger prints and the palm prints taken .

Most employers will usually demand that the Kenya police certificate of good conduct be no more than three months old. It is thus helpful for one to renew the certificate of good conduct constantly.

Kenya birth certificate application

The Kenya birth certificate has become a very important document today. For instance, candidates registering fro KCSE and KCPE exams by KNEC are now required to have their birth certificates as proof of identity. Previously, there were cases of impersonation as some people preferred to use dirty tricks in order to gain an edge in the KCSE and KCPE exams. This year, KNEC had indicated a deadline of March 31^st but it since revised its deadline to mid may. This means that the KCSE and KCPE candidate shave a reprieve as they await the deadline. In order to easily navigate the Kenya birth certificate application process, one will need to follow the steps/requirements outlined below;

-The name and particulars of the person for whom the birth certificate is being sought.

-Sex of the person to whom the birth certificate is being sought.

-Type and nature of birth.

-The particulars of the mother such as the marital status, previous births and the area that the mother resides in.

-The name of the father if the mother is married.

-The signature of the applicant for married couples.

-The register of the birth form B1 or A1.

No fee is charged in order to obtain the birth certificate.

For Kenyans that were born abroad, it is essential that you:

-obtain the birth certificate from the country that the child was born in.

-Visit the nearest Kenyan embassy with the birth certificate.

- Allow for enough time for the document to be delivered to you.

Helb loan application Process.

The helb loan application process may seem tedious but it isn’t. The Higher education loans bard (HELB) was ostensibly established so as to enable bright but needy Kenyan University students pursue higher education. The loans are charged at favorable market rates and are repaid once the graduate completes university. The maximum amount that one can get from help varies depending on the financial ability of the student. Helb mainly serves the regular public university students although in recent years, privately sponsored students have started applying for the loans. Private university students as well as postgraduate students have also started applying for the helb loans.

The helb loan application process is fairly easy and straight forward. Once one is admitted to a regular program in the public universities, they will be sent helb forms (together with the admission letter) which they will then fill the appropriate details. The helb forms can also be downloaded online. Some of the details will need to be corroborated by a respected elder from the region where the applicant stays in. Such elders can be church elders, chiefs, local headmaster/principal or the DO. The helb forms will then be sent together with the application forms. More than 90% of applicants receive some form of financial aid by helb. The loan is awarded for one year and the applicant will need to reapply for the subsequent years. However, it is very rare that an applicant will be denied a loan once they get it in their first/freshman year.

The repayment period for the loan has been shortened in recent years. Loan recipients now have a much shorter time in which to start repaying the loans once they have graduated. Helb has liaised with the credit Bureau Africa (CBA), a credit rating firm, to profile the database of loan applicants. This means that it may be harder for you to obtain a loan from a Kenyan bank/financial institution if you actually defaulted on the helb loans.

KRA Pin Certificate registration Process

The Kenya Revenue Authority(KRA) has digitized the KRA Pin certificate registration process. Unlike the previous years where one had to queue in the Time Tower for long periods of time, the process can comfortably be performed from the comfort of a cyber café or home. Provided one has the internet accessibility, the process is fairly straightforward. You can also register for the KRA Pin certificate through the cyber café attendant although some cyber cafes charge exorbitant fees. You will need to have the following when registering for the KRA pin.

-The date of birth

-The ID number

-The district of birth.

-Father’s last name.

-Mother’s last name.

-Your birth year.

When registering for the KRA pin certificate, you will need to go the KRA website www.kra.go.ke/portal/.

-Once you are on the site, click on Taxpayer registration, which is conveniently found in the e-registration services.

-You will then access the KRA online services page. At this point, you will be required to enter the user id and a password.. By so doing, you will be able to access the system services.

-Go ahead and click the new taxpayer.

-In the next page ;you will choose between; Resident, Non-Resident, and/or the company. Make the appropriate choice.

You should then enter the following particulars:

--ID Number

-Date of birth

-District of birth

-Father’s last name

-Mother’s last name

-The Year of birth

Many people have difficulty using the services and rely on cyber café attendants to obtain the KRA pin certificate for them.

Helb loan application.

This article will explain the Helb loan application and how one can access it. The Higher Education loans Board (HELB), is a financing body for higher education in Kenya. It was ostensibly set up to assist needy but bright students access university education in Kenya. The maximum Helb loan that an applicant can get varies depending on a person’s financial background. However, almost all government sponsored students who apply for the loans are usually offered the loans. Some extremely needy students may also be offered a non-repayable bursary.

Helb loan application is nowadays very simplified. The application forms can downloaded online or be picked from the Joint admissions headquarters in anniversary Towers along University way. However, fresh applicants may be lucky as the Universities usually send the Helb loan application forms together with the University admission documents. If you are approved to receive the loan, a certain percentage goes directly towards the payment of fees while the rest is left for student’s upkeep. In recent years, some self sponsored students as well as Private University students have been able to access the loans. The Helb loans usually cover one year of study and one will have to reapply for the subsequent years. It is however very rare that one is denied the loan on subsequent years’ application.

Of course, one will need to repay the Helb loan after they are through with their studies. Helb has been aggressive of late as it moves to forestall the default of the loans by the students. For instance, it has partnered with the Credit Bureau Africa (CBA) so as to reflect the credit status of former loan beneficiaries. You may be denied a loan by a commercial bank on the basis of defaulting a Helb loan. Thereafore, even as you go through the Helb loan application process, you should remember that the loan will be repaid later. Of course, that is the last thing on any students mind.

KCPE exams-Do they really need to be scrapped?

The recent move by MP Jeremiah Kioni to have the KCPE exams abolished has created a lot of controversy in the education sector.Mr.Kioni points out that the exam has outlived its usefulness and hence should be done away with. In deed, his supporters allege that the exam is often used as a tool to lock out many deserving students from high school education.

KCPE exams were introduced in 1985 in line with the new 8-4-4 education system. Previously; the country was using the 7-4-2-3 system of education. Former president Moi hoped that the new education system would help inculcate practical skills in students so that they could be self relient.It was hoped that this would lead to a faster economic growth for the country.However,the results have been mixed.

Any exam system ostensibly acts as a tool to check on the learners progress and to gauge whether they have mastered the necessary skills before they can move to the next level of learning.However, exams in Kenya have acquired a new meaning. In fact, the exam system in the country supports a multibillion shilling industry that includes publishers, teachers offering tution, textbook authors and so own. In many cases, the national exams; KCPE and KCSE mainly act as a screening tool for applicants to the next stage. Since there are few opportunities for all the students to advance to the next level, it is imperative that a system be set forth so reduce the numbers that advance to the next level.However,even if the exams are abolished, the fact remains that there are simply not enough high schools to absorb all the class eight students.

The first KCPE exam was topped by Naeem Samnakay who went to top the KCSE exams four years later at the Alliance High school. He is currently a pediatrician surgeon in Australia.However, not all KCPE stars have had such an amazing success. Some have fallen by the wayside quite literally. Could it be that the KCPE exams test entirely different concepts than the KCSE exams? Some of the notable names that went on to top KCSE without having been top in KCPE include Fred Were, who topped the KCSE exams in 1990 at the Starehe Boys Center, Samuel Gikandi top student in 1999 at the Alliance High school,Amit Monga,top student in 2001 at the Starehe Boys center,Dhar Tishampati,top student in KCSE 2000 at the Mang’u high school,Kirimania Murithi; top student in 1994 at the Alliance High school, James Kandie Rotich,top student in 2005 at the Moi high school kabarak.

However, the other counterargument could be that it is really hard to separate the top 100 students and given another exam, the positions would alternate and hence the slight variation in KCSE/KCSE.While not exactly the best students nationally, the above students at least near the top in the KCPE exams.

Why KCSE superstars are headed west.

By now, the dust on KCSE results has settled and few people remember even remember the names of the top stars. However, just a week after the release of the KCSE results, some 400 medical students held a demonstration demanding to be posted. The medical student graduates are through their studies and want to be posted. The Health ministry is awaiting some 400 Million shillings or thereabouts in order to post them. These were the same students that appeared on TV screens with joy as they let the nation know their ambitions of becoming a doctor. This is perhaps; some students have given the local employment scene a wide berth. Such students get the basic education in Kenya and receive the advanced education and professional refinement in the west. I just did a couple of Google searches on the guys who topped KCSE in the 1990s and the 2000s.

A simple Google search on top student in KCSE 1989, Naeem Samnakay (Alliance High School), reveals that he went to Australia to pursue medical studies.

A search on the top student in 1990, Fred Were, from Starehe, reveals that he went to the US for further studies and is a now a medical researcher there.

A search on Gilbert Tengetta, from Mang’u High School and top student in 1992,

reveals that he went to the US to pursue engineering studies where he is up to date. Similarly ,some of the other top students went to various western universities.

They include:

-Kirimani Murithi-(Read about Kirimania Murithi's story here)Alliance High School-MIT.

Timothy Thairu-Alliance High school(KCSE 1998)- Harvard

Samuel Gikandi(KCSE)1999-Alliance High school-MIT.

Dhar Tishampati (KCSE 2000) –Mang’u High school –University of Adelaide- I remember attending the mang’u Math’s contest and the guy basically got 29 out of 30 while the next one had 14. Anyone who has participated in the Mang’u Math’s contest knows how difficult those quizzes are.

Amit Monga- Starehe Boys center-(KCSE 2001)–McGill University

Hillary Mucheru-(Nguviu Boys)KCSE 2001-Harvard

Isaac Nyang’olo –(Mang’u)KCSE 2001-Harvard

James Kandie Rotich-Moi High school kabarak-MIT

Some of the other students without remembering the years that they left high school include:

-Zawadi Lemayian (Read Zawadi Lemayian's story here) –Alliance Girls High school-MIT

-Paul K Njoroge –(Read Paul K Njoroge's story here)Starehe Boys Center-Who went to MIT before becoming a become a Rhodes scholar.

-Wanjiku Mungai-Precious Blood Girls-Harvard(Currently a freshman)

-John Kimani kamau (Read John Kimani's Harvard student's blog)–Nairobi School-Harvard (Currently a freshman)
-Anthony Mabonga-Alliance High School- Currently at Harvard

-Brian Oduor -Alliance High school-Yale Graduate student

What does brand kenya really mean.

When each country is mentioned, a certain image or train of thought quickly comes to mind. If you think about the US, New York’s statue of Liberty, Hollywood and a slew of other institutions and personalities quickly come to mind. When one talks about China, the Great Wall of China, Mao Zedong as well as Confucius easily comes to mind. France has the Eiffel tower, and the romance of Paris. For our neighbors Tanzania, what easily comes to mind is “Undugu” ,”Ujamaa” ,”Uswahili” and Mwalimu Nyerere. South Africa of course has the saintly Mandela while Nigeria has the braggado men and uniquely dressed men and women. England has the royal monarchy while Egypt has the world famous Egyptian Pyramids. India has Mahtma Gandhi as its symbol.

So whereas different countries have different symbols and personalities that define them, in Kenya, it is hard to think of anyone symbol that transcends tribe, gender and economic divisions. Even as brand Kenya attempts to define a unique brand for the country, a symbol of pride really needs to be identified. There are a number of areas that brand secretariat may look at; such as KICC, the world beating Kenyan athletes, the Maasai Mara and the likes. Otherwise, all the effort in paying lobbies in Washington to market Kenya’s image abroad may prove futile.

Without any binding Kenyan identity, it becomes easy to tramp it. How many times have you heard of a Kenyan, on the brink of being deported, suddenly swears that they are Jamaican. Equally, for the youth, the brand Kenya does not mean anything as long as they find that they have no stake in the country. For instance, in a survey done by the BBC in 2006, about 81% of Nairobi youth indicated that they were willing to immigrate to another country if there was an opportunity. This rate, alongside New Delhi in India, was the highest in the world.

Weighted Cluster Points for Kenyan Universities.

oon after the KCSE results are announced, the Joint Admissions Board (JAB), usually meets to set the cut off point for the admission to public Universities. The cut off point was initially a C+ but has been increasing over the years and it now hovers around grade B. The number of students admitted has been increasing from around ten thousand to the current number of about twenty five thousand students. The self sponsored students (parallel degree students) are usually admitted separately by each individual university. The talks between the government and the private Universities to admit more students more students seem to have collapsed.

The weighted cluster points are a derivative of the overall aggregate points and the raw cluster points needed in order to study a course in a Kenyan University. The maximum points that one can score is 84 whereas the maximum raw cluster points that one can score is 48. The raw cluster points is composed of the subjects that are most relevant to the study of a particular course. For instance, if one wanted to study medicine, the raw cluster points would be composed of English/Kiswahili, Math/Physics, Biology and Chemistry. The maximum weighted cluster points is 48 and as the aggregate points and the raw cluster points keep reducing, it keeps reducing to 47.7 and so forth. Ceturis peribus (All factors being constant), the more competitive the course, the higher the weighted cluster points. For instance, the weighted cluster points for Medicine, Actuarial science and Electrical engineering have been the highest in recent years. This indicates that these courses are the most competitive in the Kenyan public Universities.

Download the JAB weighted cluster points table.

Joint Admissions Board (JAB).

The Kenyan Universities have expanded in the recent past and their number now exceeds thirty. There are seven public universities in Kenya. The seven public universities are University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, JKUAT University, Maseno University, Egerton University, Moi University and Masinde Muliro University. There are also many public universities in Kenya. The most famous public universities include Strathmore University, USIU University, Daystar University, Kabarak University, University of Eastern African baraton, St.Pauls University, Mount Kenya University, Inoorero University, Africa Nazarene University etc.

Kenyan Universities undergraduate admission/application-Public Universities (Regular/government sponsored program)

Admission to Kenyan Universities is fairly straightforward. It is done by the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) which meets quite a few times each year. Jab is made up of admission officials and vice chancellors of all the public universities.

-Admission straight from high school.(After sitting the KCSE exam)

If you are applying to Kenyan Universities straight from high school, you will need to get at least grade C+. However, this grade is merely on paper. Due to increasing demand for tertiary education and the limited opportunities available, admission to public universities has been cut throat. The admission grade has hovered around grade B for the past few years. When assigning you the courses, the public universities use what is known as the weighted cluster points. The weighted cluster points are a derivative of the overall aggregate points and the raw cluster points. The overall aggregate points that one can score in the KCSE exam is 84 points while the least number of points that one can score in the exams is 7. The raw cluster points are made up of the individual subjects that are most relevant to the course that one wishes to study. For instance, if one wants to study medicine, the raw cluster points would be composed of English/Kiswahili, Mathematics/Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

The maximum weighted cluster points are 48 and they will keep on reducing as the overall aggregate points and the raw cluster points keep on reducing. The more competitive the course, the higher the weighted cluster points required. Such courses as medicine, electrical engineering, Actuarial science and pharmacy will naturally require a higher weighted cluster point. If you have not attained the necessary weighted cluster points for the given course, JAB will invite you to revise your choice of the courses.

-Kenyan Universities (Public) -Admission and application as a diploma holder

You can join the Kenyan Universities as a diploma holder. In many cases you will join in your second or third year. You can also pursue a discipline that is totally different from your earlier degree if you already hold a bachelors degree.

Kenyan Universities (Public)-Admission for self sponsored/privately sponsored or parallel degree students.

Due to limited chances available through the government sponsored programs, the higher education sector was liberalized in 1998 when the University of Nairobi admitted its first set of self sponsored students. Some students also prefer to enroll in the parallel programs if they have not been admitted to their preferred course of study. In addition, some students do not wish to stay at home for long periods of time and hence prefer to join the parallel programs. It is important to remember that the students admitted through the regular program often have to stay home for up to two years. To be admitted as a self sponsored/parallel student, you will need to have gotten at least grade C+ and a C+ in both math and English. If you have not attained a C+ in the individual subject, you will have to undergo a bridging course, which usually takes three months.

Kenyan Universities (Private)-Admission and application.

Admission to Kenyan private universities is done by the respective universities. You will however need to obtain a minimum of grade C+ in order to be admitted. The private universities also have may look into extra curricular activities when admitting when admitting a student.

Kenyan Universities- Academic Courses offered

There are many courses offered and you would need to visit the individual universities to find the course catalogue. Some universities also excel in some areas. For instance Kenyatta University is widely known for its teaching while JKUAT University is known for its engineering programs. Similarly, UON is known for a slew of courses in medicine, business, engineering and offers the most courses in the country. Strathmore University is known for business and IT courses while USIU is known for business, international relations and the social sciences.

Kenyan Universities- Tuition Fees charged

The fees charged by Kenyan Universities varies. The fees charged by public universities for regular student’s ranges from Kshs. 28,000 to kshs.56, 000 per academic year depending on the University. Regular student’s fees are heavily subsidized by the government. The fees for parallel/self sponsored students in Kenyan public Universities depends on the course that one is pursuing. For instance, if one is pursuing a course in medicine, they should prepare to pay anywhere between Kshs. 400,000 to kshs.600, 000 per academic year. A course in engineering costs anywhere between kshs.120,000 to kshs. 250,000 per academic year depending on the course and the university. A science course costs anywhere between kshs.100,000 to kshs.200,000 per academic year. An art course costs anywhere between kshs.70,000 and kshs. 180,000 depending on the course and the University. In many cases , the fees quoted above excludes room, board and other miscellaneous expenses.

The fees charged by private universities differs. It may be anywhere between kshs. 120,000 and kshs.400,000 per academic year. Unlike public universities, the private Universities have to pay lecturers from their own costs and so they might charge more for their expenses.

Kenyan Universities-Helb loan application

One can apply for Helb in order to meet the cost of daily expenses. Nearly all the regular students are successful in applying for Helb loans. Nowadays, Helb has also started offering loans to students in parallel programs and those in Private Universities. However, make sure that you start repaying the loans as Helb has been very aggressive recently in pursuing loan defaulters. The Credit Bureau reference Africa records all your credit history and if you are unable to repay the helb loans, you will have a hard time accessing loans from commercial banks.

Kenyan Universities-Scholarships

Nearly all government sponsored students can be considered to be on scholarships since their education is largely subsidized. Regular students can also obtain bursaries from Helb, CDF, trusts such as rattansi fund. Kenyan private universities also offer a number of their own scholarships. One of the most famous scholarships is the Guinness/EABL scholarship that is tenured at Strathmore University. One will however have to pursue either a business or IT related course.

Kenyan Universities-Endowment funding

Kenyan Universities do not have a significant endowment funding. The only University that seems to have a large endowment fund is USIU (which is in millions). Clearly, Kenyan Universities have not mastered the art of alumni networking to help raise endowment funds and donate to their alma mater.

Kenyan careers and teaching jobs in Universities plus postgraduate opportunities in Kenyan Universities..

Teaching jobs in universities in Kenya have not been so forthcoming as the government has reduced the funding of the universities over the years. Some of the Universities, such as JKUAT, retain high achieving students who score first class honors and reabsorb them into the teaching force. The postgraduate scholarships in Kenyan Universities are not too many but helb does provide a loan to bright but needy students. Many students do take out loans to pursue their masters and PhD programs. The most popular post graduate course in Kenyan Universities is the Masters In Business Administration (MBA). This is partly as a result of many students wanting to climb the corporate ladder rather quickly However, the jury is still out on whether the MBA has really produced better managers.

Kenyan Universities ranking (Local and Global ranking)

According to the webometrics ranking of universities globally (January 2011 release), The University of Nairobi was the highest ranked Kenyan University. It was position twenty seven in Africa. It was closely followed by Strathmore University, USIU, Kenyatta University. JKUAT University, Egerton and Moi University also make it to the top 100 in Africa.Webometrics mainly ranks universities according to their web presence in a bid to encourage the Universities to publish more journals electronically. Globally, the best ranked university was MIT followed Harvard and Stanford in that order. One would be advised to look at other ranking bodies such as Shanghai Jiatao ranking of Universities, Times Higher education ranking, US News&World report ranking, etc.

Get the JAB weighted cluster points table here

Kenyan Universities overview and analysis.

Kenyan Universities undergraduate admission/application-Public Universities (Regular/government sponsored program)

-Admission straight from high school.(After sitting the KCSE exam)

-Kenyan Universities (Public) -Admission and application as a diploma holder

Kenyan Universities (Public)-Admission for self sponsored/privately sponsored or parallel degree students.

Kenyan Universities (Private)-Admission and application.

Kenyan Universities- Academic Courses offered

Kenyan Universities- Tuition Fees charged

Kenyan Universities-Helb loan application

Kenyan Universities-Scholarships

Kenyan Universities-Endowment funding

Kenyan careers and teaching jobs in Universities plus postgraduate opportunities in Kenyan Universities..

Kenyan Universities ranking (Local and Global ranking)

Download JAB weighted cluster points table.

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