My work was to chew books, not women- Turkana Central MP Nakara Lodepe

I joined Daystar University in 1996 for a diploma course in Journalism, and majored in Print Journalism.

My favourite unit was communication skills which was taught by one Mary Ondek, my best lecturer, who had this unique approach to teaching. In fact, it was needless to read her notes once you attended her lectures, she just made things simple. I however hated the unit on gathering information which was boring.

I came from a very poor background, in fact, I was under scholarship from a Nigerian called Gilbert Okoronko.  So I never hustled to survive and pay fees, all I did was chew books and politics.

 My memorable day in campus was when I went to cover Martin Shikuku and James Orengo’s Saba Saba opposition political rally in Nairobi. Police raided the place and beat everyone up irrespective of who you were, it gave me a fearful impression of journalism.

The other memorable part was when I was elected Chair of the Daystar University Students Association, which I believe tickled my political career rolling. During our time, dating was a bit reserved. It was not the in-thing given that Daystar observed a strong Christian foundation that many obeyed.

That’s why we did not also love hanging out in night clubs but maintained church vigils and outreach programmes. I, for instance, never dated a girl in campus because my family had already found me a bride after Form Four. Mine was just to finish campus and go marry her.

I will never forget Louis Otieno who was a talented presenter in our university station so much we we kept admiring him.

Nakara Lodepe graduated with a diploma in journalism from Daystar University, Class of 1998

—