By EMMAH KIHIU

And the student who appears to be coping may be quietly reaching a breaking point.

Behind closed hostel doors, as most students are asleep,a different kind of struggle begins for some students. Some stare at their phones all night ,other lie awake worrying about the following day or problems they cannot bring themselves to discuss with anyone. 

To a passerby, they may look like ordinary university students attending lectures, laughing with friends and posting pictures and funny quotes online, but beneath the smiles ,some are fighting battles that nobody sees.

University is often described as a period of freedom, discovery and new opportunities, but with academic pressure, financial difficulties and relationship problems, emotional distress and depression arise.

Most carry the distress alone with fear that if they speak out nobody would understand them better. Stacy, a fourth year student battling depression recalls, "I hadn't slept more than two weeks. My heart was racing constantly and I felt this crushing weight in my chest.

CATs had began, exams were approaching, my fees was unpaid ,I had no gatepass meaning I couldn't access the school. 

There was no hope. Every time I thought about  asking for help, I froze. I thought everyone else was managing and if I break it means I am weak or simply don't fit here,so I kept quiet."

Many students, despite the mounting challenges, do not seek help. For some, admitting that they are struggling is viewed as a sign of weakness. Some fear being judged by friends and family members but they do not realise that it's causing a damage in their mental health.

They may describe themselves as simply being tired ,stressed or sleepy and continue pushing through the problem until it becomes more difficult to manage. The silence carry a more serious consequence.

Students needs to understand that seeking help is not a sign of failure. A simple statement like "I am not okay "can be the beginning of getting support. 

Most of the universities have guidance and counselling programmes that are accessible by all students and are confidential. Friends should play an important role by noticing when someone begins withdrawing or behave differently. Lecturers can create an environment where students feel comfortable discussing difficulties without fear of humiliation. 

Seeking psychological support should be viewed same as treating a physical injury. Until the society and institutions prioritize wellbeing alongside academic achievement, the silent struggle inside the hostels and lecture halls will continue to demand our attention. 

 

As universities prepare students for careers and professional life, they must also help them develop the support system and coping skills needed to face emotional challenges. Students should be encouraged to seek help and see asking for help as strength rather than weakness.

Some times the student who needs help most is the one who looks like they need it the least.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

He was speaking during a retreat for Kitui County Executive and Kitui County Assembly members. It was attended by the County Assembly of Kitui Speaker Kevin Kinengo and other legislative officials at a Mombasa hotel during which  the leaders reviewed the achievements of Governor Julius Malombe's administration now in its second and final term. 

"Our own-source revenue increased from Sh361 million in FY 2021/2022 to Sh1.2 billion in FY 2025/2026, representing approximately 170% growth ",  the joint communique read. 

It was signed by Governor Dr Julius Malombe and Speaker Kevin Katisya and was read to the media by the former.

Governor Malombe said that his County administration was able to support service delivery and roll out development projects better due to increased revenue collection. The county has also substantially reduced pending bills from Sh2.56 billion in 2022/2023  to Sh449 million in FY 2026/2027. This is an 82.5% drop in the pile of pending bills.

4053 projects were implemented in Governor Malombe's second term in office. The implemented projects are spread across all 40 wards and 247 villages. The biggest number of implemented projects were roads and infrastructure standing at 818. Water projects were in the second position at 739 while health projects implemented since 2022 are 330.

One of the signature projects done by Governor Malombe's administration in this ending election cycle is the Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project. World Vision Kenya was the devolved unit's partner in realising this important project.

Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project covers 224 kilometres with pipeline network in order to serve around 100,000 residents. It has 52 water kiosks to achieve this service delivery of an essential commodity. 

In the health sector, the county has slightly increased the number of public health facilities from 307 to 341 since the 2022 general elections. It also expanded maternity units from 81 to186. "Thirty-nine of our 40 wards now have Level 3 facilities. Consequently,  the average distance to health facilities has reduced from 10.2 kilometres 6.8 kilometres, bringing services closer to communities", he said.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The experts were speaking during a free eye medical camp held in Embu town to commemorate World Sight Day, with the exercise specifically targeting drivers.

The initiative brought together eye health professionals who screened drivers and members of the public for various eye-related conditions, including problems that could affect their ability to see clearly while driving.

Daniel Kige, the Vision Impact Coordinator in Embu County, said regular eye examinations among drivers were necessary because they play a critical role in ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users.

Kige said drivers require good vision to identify road signs, pedestrians, other vehicles and potential hazards, especially when driving at night or under difficult weather conditions.

He expressed concern that a majority of drivers rarely seek eye check-ups unless they begin experiencing serious problems with their vision.

He urged motorists to make eye examinations part of their routine health checks, saying early detection of vision problems could help prevent accidents and improve road safety.

Kige also called on drivers experiencing symptoms such as double vision, blurred vision or difficulty seeing clearly to seek medical attention rather than continuing to drive without treatment.

Pauline Nginyo, the County Health Promotion Officer, said the free eye screening was part of the county government's strategy to address eye-related problems among residents.

Nginyo encouraged residents of Embu County to undergo regular eye examinations, noting that many eye conditions can be detected and managed early when people seek medical attention.

She further urged members of the public not to wait until they experience severe vision problems before visiting health facilities for eye check-ups.

John Mwaniki, a driver who benefited from the free screening, welcomed the initiative, saying motorists often face eye-related challenges due to the nature of their work and the long hours they spend on the road.

Mwaniki called for more eye screening programmes targeting drivers, saying regular check-ups would help motorists maintain good vision and ultimately contribute to safer roads in Embu and beyond.

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

The support will see Safaricom enhance connectivity across the stadium, while bringing its digital, payment and customer service propositions closer to fans and businesses during the tournament. The company will strengthen network capacity at the venue to enable fans to share and follow the action seamlessly, while dedicated connectivity will support the live broadcast of the tournament. “Safari 7s is an important platform for showcasing Kenya’s sporting talent and bringing fans together. Our support reflects Safaricom’s commitment to using technology, connectivity and digital services to enhance the experience for fans, athletes and organisers. We wish Shujaa and the Lionesses success as they defend their titles,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO.

The sponsorship builds on Safaricom’s two-year partnership with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), valued at more than KES 100 million, through which M-PESA supports Kenya’s national Sevens teams, Shujaa and the Kenya Lionesses. The partnership provides player and official monthly allowances, comprehensive medical insurance, airtime allowances, and financial literacy programmes. “We are grateful to Safaricom for its continued collaboration with KRU and its commitment to supporting the growth of rugby in Kenya. Its investment in connectivity will help fans stay connected and follow the action, while its support for women’s rugby through the M-PESA partnership continues to make a meaningful difference.

We look forward to delivering an exciting Safari 7s and encourage fans to turn up in large numbers to support our teams,” said Harriet Okach, Chairperson, KRU.

Safaricom will also bring its digital and financial services closer to fans throughout the tournament. Through My OneApp, fans will be able to access matchday tickets via the Tikohub MiniApp, as well as streaming bundles to follow the action. Visitors will also be able to use M-PESA GlobalPay as a convenient payment option during the tournament.

The 28th edition of Safari 7s will feature 18 teams competing across the men’s and women’s categories, with defending champions Kenya Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses returning to defend their titles. The men’s competition will feature Kenya Shujaa, Kenya Morans and a mix of international and invitational sides, while the women’s competition will feature Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Shibli and teams from Uganda, Tunisia and Spain.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The nurses say the rapid expansion of critical care units has not been matched with adequate resources, putting pressure on healthcare workers and potentially compromising the quality of care offered to critically ill patients.

Speaking during a two-day conference in Embu County to launch the Society of Critical Care Nurses, the chairperson of the society, Conelia Ouma, said there was an urgent need for the government to invest more resources in critical care services.

Ouma said many critical care units across the country are still operating without adequate specialised equipment required to manage patients with serious and life-threatening conditions.

She noted that critical care nurses require sophisticated equipment and appropriate working environments to effectively monitor, manage and provide specialised care to vulnerable patients.

"We call upon the government to recognize the specialization of critical care nurses for the specialization that it is," Ouma said.

She said the government should also review the existing Human Resource terms for critical care nurses and establish the correct job cadre that reflects their specialised training, skills and responsibilities.

According to the nurses, recognising critical care nursing as a specialised cadre would help address challenges relating to deployment, career progression, remuneration and professional development.

The Society of Critical Care Nurses, which represents specialised critical care nurses in Kenya, is also calling for the development of a clear structure that supports nurses working in critical care settings.

Ouma said increased resources should be directed towards critical care services, including equipment, staffing and other essential facilities required to support specialised nursing care.

The nurses further called for continuous capacity building to enable critical care nurses to keep pace with emerging technologies, procedures and developments in the management of critically ill patients.

They said strengthening the capacity of critical care nurses was particularly important as hospitals continue to establish and expand intensive and other specialised critical care units across the country.

The society urged the government and other stakeholders to work together in addressing the challenges facing critical care nurses, saying adequate investment in the sector would strengthen the country's ability to care for critically ill and vulnerable patients.