Siaya National Polytechnic has officially launched its annual Cultural and Peer Week, shifting the traditional celebration toward an urgent focus on mental health, financial literacy, and student security.
The event, which runs until June 27, has brought together multiple regional institutions to directly address pressing contemporary challenges facing regional youth.
Chief Principal Engineer Felix Odhiambo stated that the initiative is designed to support the “whole student” alongside traditional academic and artistic pursuits. “We have talented students, but due to financial and family challenges, some risk not finishing their courses,” Odhiambo explained, noting that these wellness tracks teach students how to navigate daily stress.
This year’s forum directly tackles serious safety issues, including regional trends in femicide.
Peer Educator and School Deputy President Florence Awino emphasized that the targeted training empowers young women with vital safety and wellness information.
Counseling psychology student Michael Magoa Otieno added that peer pressure and toxic relationships heavily undermine academic performance and spark severe psychological distress among the youth.
To curb dropouts caused by deep economic hardships, Peer Coordinator Joakim Nyaluola explained that the polytechnic partnered with banking institutions to offer practical financial literacy training.
“We teach our trainees how to use whatever little resources they get at their disposal,” Nyaluola said. Otieno noted that the majority of the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, making financial guidance an essential campus lifeline.
Alongside these intensive wellness workshops, the festival celebrates diverse cultural heritages through music, comedy, drama, and a vintage fashion showcase highlighting Luo, Luhya, and Kisii heritages.
The event has drawn massive attendance from neighboring institutions, including Bondo TTI, Semme, Ugunja, Ugenya, and Sigalagala National Polytechnic.
Maxwell Omondi described the gathering as a wholesome occasion enriching the lives of youth far beyond their own campus borders.
