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…