5 REASONS TO WHY I’M NOT HAPPY GOING BACK TO K.U

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!

Mark Maina

By Mark Maina