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| Main Gate |
Make no
mistake, I am proud to be a student of Kenyatta University. It is a great
institution run by visionary administration. In 25 years, K.U has transformed
from just training teachers to encompass other academic disciplines. . Adopting
novelty K.U has become a trendsetter in Africa with world-class facilities only
rivaled by ivy league universities.
In just three years, I have seen the completion
of the ultra modern library, hospitality building, amphitheater, school of
engineering and commissioning of the Ksh 9 Billion referral hospital. This has all
been done under the leadership of the current Vice Chancellor Prof Olive
Mugenda. In spite of being such a prestigious university, the following issues
taint our otherwise splendid image.
1)
KUSA elections
Having taken
part in the last two KUSA elections, I have come to dread the election period.
When the country’s top brains blatantly choose to vote along tribal lines it spells
doom to the future of our beloved country Kenya. After witnessing the wanton
destruction of property and loss lives during the 2007 PEV we the young
generation should be on the forefront in eliminating tribalism and election malpractice.
We the students
of K.U should conduct the forthcoming students election with due diligence. Let
us elect in the next crop of student leaders based on integrity and ability to
perform not because he or she speaks your native language.
I beseech all comrades to practice restrain,
engage one another in healthy debate, be accommodative to divergent views and
maintain peace. Once done with the electoral process, let us all forget our
political affiliations, come back together and pursue our core objective; edification.
Thus, make our elections a model to which this nation learns how to successfully
conduct a peaceful, free and fair election.
2)
Insecurity
It is common
to see students strutting on campus with voluminous bags on their backs. The
contents of these bags are ones most treasured possessions. A few individuals have
chosen to terrorize others by engaging in petty crime. Unperturbed by strong
locks all they need is a 3 minutes window to break in and make away with all
your valuables, especially notebooks-PCs.
Loss of life like that of the fellow student
Mr. Vincent Kiplagat (R.I.P) under the hands of gun trotting criminals should
be avoided at all costs. Losing a child in such a manner is an ordeal no parent
should undergo. Installation of the metal detector booths and erecting of
security light pylons are good initiatives. As students, we should develop a
sense of brotherhood and keep vigil on neighbors property. Some friends and I
intend to put up some surveillance webcams on our hostel wing to discourage burglary.
Such cheap technological adaptations can adequately minimize this vice.
3)
Vicious Bedbugs
Most
students will agree with me the first time they saw these annoying pests was in
campus. From the horrible tales I have heard from students who have faced these
little monsters I’m totally scared of reporting back to college as the hostel I
have been assigned is their breeding nest. Most students from this particular
hostel look emaciated could it because of prohibitive food prices or bedbugs
sucking their blood ? Can someone tell me how to vanquish these little vampires
from my room?
4)
Bureaucracy and crowding
Like any other government institution in Kenya with a long chain
of command, processes are lengthy. Take for example recovering ‘missing marks’. It’s a nightmare! I have
met a number of students who did not graduate in time because they could not
recover their ‘missing’ grades in
time. The situation is worse due to the high student population currently at
60,000. I hope the new Campus Vue portal will be the silver bullet to purge the
need to stand in long queues in order to register units.
Those who fall
sick while on session and visit the Health Unit are subjected to great
psychological anguish. One is forced to spend hours on end queuing in order to
see a doctor only to later find out that the medication prescribed is out of
stock. I prefer consulting uncle Google or see a physician off campus whenever
ill.
5)
High levels of Unemployment
After
reading disheartening tales in our local dailies of university graduates
languishing in poverty years after failing to secure decent jobs has dimmed my
college-mates opinion on varsity education. This can be attributed to a bigger chunk
of populace pursuing other economic activities like online writing and
marketing at the expense of their education. Lecturers will agree with me a
handful of students attend classes but when they call for C.A.T’s overwhelming
numbers appear forcing them to print more papers and search for a bigger venue.
I congratulate the University for building the
magnificent Chandaria business incubation centre. It is time now students are
enlightened on how to make maximum use of this facility to create jobs and
empower themselves economically.
There is
also need for students to realize gone are the days when one was assured of a
job after college. In this age, one has to be prolific in their field and well
networked to clinch a coveted position. It is not enough to have good grades,
one ought to have impeccable social skills, be aggressive and enterprising to
survive.
By the way, what happened to the work
induction program?
This goes to
whoever owned the Baghdad café in KM. Ever since you closed down I’m yet to
find another café that can match your delicacies and generous portions especially
‘Ugali Matumbo’. For my sake and many
other loyal patrons please rebuild it soonest possible!
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| Mark Maina |
lol bedbugs! the states have this predicament in a lot of their dorms too!
ReplyDeleteHow do they deal with this menace?
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