WAS JESUS CHRIST A ZEALOT?

Christians all over the world get into a Christmas mood to celebrate the presumed birthday of Jesus Christ every end of the year month of December.However much need to be reflected upon the phenomenon .It is no wonder many Christians have always vied Christmas as a holy day, for meditation, thanks giving and fellowship celebrations. My view is that we Christians and even other religious followers in our society need to reflect on Jesus’ ministry and its implications to the modern, historical and even ancient revolutions in society and what we can learn from it.

First, Jesus Christ was born as a Jew in Bethlehem territory of the Jewish people that was dominated by zealots during the reign of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire rulers in [Palestine ruled with gist, ruthlessness and injustice against the Jewish masses. They imposed draconian laws that involved subjecting the masses to heavy taxes and labor. They also imposed laws that prohibited the Jews giving birth to baby boys.

Like in any society that is subjected to such injustices, rebellious groups are bound to evolve. The zealots as they called themselves were openly opposed to the roman rulers and advocated for the freedom of the Jews, politically, culturally and religiously. The zealots gave birth to Zionism, a movement that later was to form a political awareness of the Jews that led to the establishment of the modern Israel state. They were freedom fighters.

The ministry of Jesus Christ was openly opposed to the ways and system of the roman rulers. He adamantly used his ministry to divert the attention of the masses from the centre principles of the rulers by rebuking them. In other words Jesus Christ was a reformist whose religious teachings were both religious and political. His persecution and death signaled a great symbol of change in the Jewish society. The rulers saw him as a threat to their autocracy and draconian principles as he was a great influence to the masses. On his cross the Romans inscribed: The King of Jews. There is indeed a lot we can learn from Jesus Christ.

FACTORIES IN NJORO WARNED AGAINST POLLUTION OF NJORO RIVER

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has warned factories and slaughter houses operating in Njoro Township against the pollution of Njoro River through the emission of waste into the river.

The District Environment Officer James Mwaniki said NEMA was concerned about the strategic settings of local slaughter houses and factories along the river and hinted that the authority would start a waste management programme to ensure that the factories do not emit waste products into the river.

He said that over the years the river’s contamination had led to diverse effects to health of the local populations that depend on the rivers waters for domestic consumption.

Mr.Mwaniki said this when he addressed a workshop at Njoro Primary School organized by Friends of Njoro River Project (FNR P) a community based environmental conservation group that partners with environmental conservation stakeholders to rehabilitate the river.

‘’We are monitoring the activities of local factories especially those build along the river’s banks. We will ensure that they do not emit waste in the river by asking them to give as details on their waste management programmes.”He said adding that factories found manipulating the river for waste disposal will be closed down indefinitely.

The Chairman of the group Geofrey Waihenya said one of the activities of (FNRP) was to identify the rivers waters pollution points and inform concerned stakeholders for action.

“Our objective is to analyze the potentials and weaknesses of this river in serving residents so as to come up with measures and recommendations in the rehabilitation programmes that are under way”He said.

FOREIGN STUDENTS CAUTIONED OF DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED ABROAD

Kenyan students studying in the United States of America have been told to carefully seek for information concerning foreign students and on immigration regulations in order for them to avoid encountering stumbling blocks in their academic endevours.

This was said by a visiting don from the Western Michigan State University in the United States of America Ms Catheleen Fuller at Egerton University when she addressed students, parents, academic staff and administrators involved in a twinning academic programme between the two universities that was initiated some five years ago.

The don observed that many foreign students not only from Kenya but also from other countries across the world who opt to undertake higher learning in the USA encounter difficulties that affect their academic missions due to lack of adequate information.

“Many students fail to accomplish their studies because they do not do enough research to understand all the necessary requirements pertaining to foreign students in USA. mishaps in factors like psychological preparedness, fees payments, immigration regulations, students working programmes and academic  procedures cause a lot of difficulties to foreign students” She said.

The don who is a coordinating facilitator of the twinning progrmme at WMSU encouraged parents and the government to take an active role in ensuring success of foreign students by facilitating the payment of fees and availing necessary information on immigration to USA.

The Twinning programme between Egerton University (Kenya) and Western Michigan State University (USA) involves several undergraduate degree programmes students admitted under the programme to undertake the first two academic years at Egerton before proceeding on to WMSU to wrap up the remaining academic years.

FOREIGN STUDENTS CAUTIONED OF DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED ABROAD

Kenyan students studying in the United States of America have been told to carefully seek for information concerning foreign students and on immigration regulations in order for them to avoid encountering stumbling blocks in their academic endevours.

This was said by a visiting don from the Western Michigan State University in the United States of America Ms Catheleen Fuller at Egerton University when she addressed students, parents, academic staff and administrators involved in a twinning academic programme between the two universities that was initiated some five years ago.

The don observed that many foreign students not only from Kenya but also from other countries across the world who opt to undertake higher learning in the USA encounter difficulties that affect their academic missions due to lack of adequate information.

“Many students fail to accomplish their studies because they do not do enough research to understand all the necessary requirements pertaining to foreign students in USA. mishaps in factors like psychological preparedness, fees payments, immigration regulations, students working programmes and academic  procedures cause a lot of difficulties to foreign students” She said.

The don who is a coordinating facilitator of the twinning progrmme at WMSU encouraged parents and the government to take an active role in ensuring success of foreign students by facilitating the payment of fees and availing necessary information on immigration to USA.

The Twinning programme between Egerton University (Kenya) and Western Michigan State University (USA) involves several undergraduate degree programmes students admitted under the programme to undertake the first two academic years at Egerton before proceeding on to WMSU to wrap up the remaining academic years.