What became of kenya's Universities ?

In recent happenings, the news emerging from Kenya’s top varsities is disheartening. A very dangerous precedence for the tertiary level of learning. History has always highlighted how students in the early 80s used to participate in governance not just at the campus level but also of the national level. When Moi's dictatorship rule traumatized this country, it’s the students in UoN who were the loudest in demanding for leadership. They held demonstrations from Uhuru Park and assembled at the famous freedom corner. They were determined to have their voice be heard in the national matters .In fact, The current Renowned and vibrant leaders, begun their political ranting back in time when they were youthful and full of gusto . They faced the tyrants of that time head on, and told them that the state deserved better. They were zealous, energetic and focused to the core. No amount of state machinery could be used to muzzle their voices at that moment. It should not be lost to many that most of the success stories we hear of the second liberation in the early 90s can be traced back to a huge students support at the time, never mind, that was on one public university.

In other countries, universities are known as good sources of cohesion and unity since it unites students of various colors and religions and cultural inclinations. When Ohio State University is mentioned for instance, I remember a lot about research on leadership that students did while in school .In USA, most major leadership pronouncements by leaders are done in Universities. Talk of presidential debates and what note but the picture created out there is that Universities are places where the best of the country is realized and where the future of the state is nurtured.

That is no more with the major Kenyan varsities. They are in the streets more than they are in classes. They have perfected the art of pelting stones to the innocent public even when the public is not aware of what is happening in their campus. Most of the strikes handled by the so called student leaders are petty and only out to gain personal political gains at the expense of other peoples’ hard work and sweat.   I find the Nairobi Varsity of today quite an exact opposite to the one that has a high rank in the continent. When these campuses have their internal elections, they make sure it trends for only the wrong reasons in the public eye. The elections are purely tribal games or better put, tribal census. Democracy in such elections is more of a mirage than anything else. You had better gone home during such elections than even vote because their end is always predicted; fights, police, teargas and school closure is the ultimate order of events.

Youths have always primed themselves to be the ultimate owners of a country but walking the talk has always been a tall order. They have always used their energies negatively in the guise of digital era . Poor us! The sooner we realize that the rain has been beating us hard, the better for us to salvage our ever diminishing image . Out of 10 strikes done by university students in Kenya, I found one on Chastity campaign that of course was spearheaded by FOCUS KENYA as the only one that was carrying out anoble cause.

We have allowed universities to be good breeding grounds for goons and members of the militia and sects. There are many busybodies in our universities who are just guns for hire during an electioneering period. We ought to tame this runaway crime as soon as possible. Some parents have even vowed not to have their kids dragged into these ugly fights. Time has come for students to know that these strikes are no longer interesting (if at all, they were anyway).The very purpose of demonstrations has been violated and muted. Looters have not been left out since they have seized the moment to do what they know best; steal, steal and steal.

Last year, students from all universities in South Africa did a well organized demonstration dubbed, #FeesMustFall and within a week, president Zuma ceded ground and University chiefs were ordered to lower their fees. It was peaceful and with a noble objective. Whatever is happening here in Kenya is totally out of order and unwanted. There needs to be a paradigm shift in the manner in which students handle their private matters. An students election in UoE should not paralyze operations in Eldoret, same applies to UoN and KU.

If democracy can’t be nurtured at that tender age, it won’t come our way when we grow up. It pains me to realize that when I Google search a university, I find 6 items out of 10 talking of illicit love affairs that turned soar, irresponsible behaviors of students, tribally fuelled demos and politically instigated bungled elections.

Truth, I am told is expensive and should not be expected from cheap people. It lives long and stands the test of time. You had better shared this to a university student and be sure he will rant the usual ‘comrade ryaaah’ cliché… My response has always been, excuse me buddy, I was there…

whats wrong with having no child anyway ?

I want to agree with most people that every couple is expected to have a child after marriage. Well, at least that’s according to the societal expectations and Africa to be specific. I think it’s a notion that has outlived its expectation in some way. I believe this is in regard to an ideal situation in an ideal world, never mind with an ideal couple. Did I hear someone say he didn’t get me well, I did.

The notion that every married couple should eventually have a kid after 9 months and some hours of their marriage is farfetched, a lie and an outright injustice to many couples in this continent for the very reason that it ignores the plight of infertility that comes with either men or women .Yet for me, the two make a family after all. Now, me thinks no one should quote me wrong that I don’t want kids here but I should instead be quoted for standing with the plight that has befell couples who have with time not had children as the society expects them to do so. Their fault? Maybe not.

Some stereotypes should be debunked and outlawed in this continent for the very reason that they go against the basic tenets of the world of reality. That said, I think I should welcome you to the world of reality where science and fate  by default and not design have their say on this; deny a couple a child. This is basic knowledge per say but the international community; especially Africa has always blamed this on the mother. What a fallacy of this day and age lads!

Does it mean that only women suffer from such cases? No … Anyone disagreeing should read the WHO report that puts men with a high percentage on such cases. But that’s not even the point I am putting across.

Here comes an African lady ,gets married to a charming man of his time , red hot from a wedding that attracted a sizeable crowed, hey they begin life together with mountains of hopes . To get kids is the top of the agenda but as time will eventually tell, it’s not the case.

The mother is now hated by all the relatives of the husband, allegedly for not having had a kid yet, wait, how about the neighbors who keep you in the gossip columns for the wrong reasons. It’s hard to cope with childlessness in Africa. The mother in law has even heightened the vibe against you by always reminding the son to press the exit button. I mean if you put yourself in the shoe of an African childless mother, you will be having a feeling that they have been through hell and back.

It’s important for us to ask ourselves just when the rain begun beating us this hard. Brings me back to my primary school early education where we were always told that a family is made of a father, mother and children. Please note that the sentence talks of the plural of the word child here which then brings me to the question of our upbringing. Is the society inccalculating the right attitudes to our children? Or if I may ask, what becomes of couples who have not children? Do they cease being called a family because fate or whatever a reason made them not have one.

Of much concern again is the way the church is always trying g to benefit from the plight of childless women. Church leaders(rogue ones) have never missed the chance to remind barren women to panda mbegu, all in an attempt to have them raise monies so as for them to enrich their empires and what have you. Reports of barren women moving from one crusade to another and doing all manner of charms to appease the unknown gods are abounding. As E.K puts it, this madness should end. The church has always remained mum on the plight of childless mothers. When one digs deeper on the childless mothers in the bible, God always persevered them for his glory. Their stories can still be told today. You will hardly hear such admission from the modern church, albeit for reasons known to them.

Sarah had a child at 99 years; no one said in his time that she did a lot of abortions as often claimed by the modern world in reference to mothers without children. It dishonest and hurting to them and I think there needs to be a paradigm shift on the issue. Social stigma is on the rise and this raises a lot of questions than answers on the same issue. We’ve got to embrace the childless mothers without stigma.

After all, childlessness is not a disease or a disability. We should say no to social stigma. Shall we?