Victor Ochieng'

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, putative public speaker and best-selling author. His books include: The Tipping Point (2000), Blink (2005), Outliers (2008), What the Dog Saw (2009), David and Goliath (2013), Talking to Strangers (2019) and The Bomber Mafia (2021).  In 2022, I read Outliers, The Tipping Point, and David and Goliath, and possibly, I will devour and savor the remaining titles in 2023.  Anyway, while the year is still young and virgin, permit me to share...

For those who are looking for a heroic book to read right at the advent of 2023, I recommend Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.  It is a true treasure trove for readers with a deep desire for healthy, happy, and long life. Foremost, I learned about it when I visited Kapsabet Girls...

Recently, Nyamninia Primary School at Yala, in the Gem of Siaya, trended on a wrong note. A video of a distraught boy showing wounds resulting from a thorough beating was making rounds online. Word had it that two teachers caned the boy because he could not attain 400 marks. The story arrested my attention because of two reasons: One, Nyamninia Primary School...

When you visit Nova Pioneer Schools, you will probably be amazed by their great investment. I witnessed it last weekend when I set foot in their Eldoret chapters. A lot of things left me thoroughly thrilled. All I saw was something I can describe in two words— value innovation. Foremost, the provenance and proliferation of Nova Pioneer Schools in Kenya are attributed to...

BOOK CHAPTER REVIEW Chapter Title: Cast Your Vision Author: Anthony Njagi Reviewer: Victor Ochieng’ Thriving Entrepreneurs is the latest book published by Antony Njagi. As a scribe, I can describe the book as a manual for entrepreneurs. It was launched at the front-end of June in Kisii Town in a star-studded event. So far, the author has three books on the topic of entrepreneurship under his...

Anytime I visit Precious Blood-Riruta in Nairobi, I am always thoroughly thrilled by the rich reading culture cultivated in that top girls' school. The pious Chief Principal, Sister Mary Wachira, is keen to maintain this rich culture that makes them stand out as the best among the rest. When you are in this school during the health breaks or times of...

In the Art and Science of Public Speaking, remember that many speaking situations involve two pertinent parts: the formal presentation and the Question-Answer (Q and A) session. At the tail-end of the presentation, most speakers cordially invite questions from apt listeners. Seasoned speakers know that this is a very important part of the presentation. In a book titled Stand and Deliver: How...

In the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), technical subjects like Agriculture and Computer Studies have three papers. Paper one and two tests the theoretical bit, while paper three focuses on projects, where the examiners dedicate ample time to test practical aspects taught in those subjects. This begs the question: "What if we also have a project paper in English as...

Dr. Murage Muthui, the level-headed Chief Principal of Njoro Boys High School, Nakuru County, cordially invited me to address Form One students and their parents during the auspicious Induction and Orientation Day, recently. Before I edged to the podium to deliver the pep talk, some teachers in the school were given chances to share what transpires in their departments. The teacher-counselor...

Recently, as a career counselor in secondary schools, I attended the Worldview Education Fair to learn more about the world of work. It happened at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, along Mombasa Road in Nairobi. The eye-opener event was powered by Find Admission, a study abroad agency steered by Mourine Nyongesa. The career fair had representatives from various universities spread in six...