There’s More To University Unrest Than Meets The Eye
Rabble rousers, thuggery, alchohol, bhangi and exam panic; these are some of the reasons blamed on the ever happening university student protests. Usually the given reasons almost always end up blaming the students and not the school management or government. Security management in universities is a growing concern in Kenya today especially for the students themselves. We would have ignored it if last year on July 9th University of Nairobi students went on rampage over rising insecurity within the area of their school. Just recently, on the 8th of March, students from Mount Kenya University went on a rampage after one of their own was stabbed several times by unknown attackers leading to a closure of the institution until 16th of March. Do we condone the student’s behavior? No. However when they’ve been backed into a corner what else do we expect from them.
More recently rape and murder of a Moi University student raised even more eyebrows concerning insecurity and also lead to protests that culminated in the torching of a police vehicle provided to ferry the body. The incident brought to forefront dark days not too long ago when an axe wielding rapist roamed the university area. Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jacob Kaimenyi, has finally had to call for increased security at public universities. In an interview with Capital FM, he stressed that when one student is affected, it affects everybody and thus should be a concern that cannot be swept under the carpet.
These particular student protest are unfortunately being approached from one angle alone. Students nnot only fear for their security but are themselves tired of being sidelined by the government when it comes to security. One student confirmed that they (the students) do not want to see the police in the vicinity, reason being that the police only avail themselves after the worst has happened and are never present to provide security. The protest at Moi University was so intense that in the end the university’s ambulance had to ferry the body of the third year Arts and Social Sciences student to the morgue.
With all this in mind, the complex situation in the universities still remains uncertain. Looking at the situation in the country where there are still inquests into unexplained brutal murders touching the political class and renowned businessmen, the future doesn’t seem very bright . The government needs to confront these situations head on with immediate effect as students need to be sure of a safe environment in order to learn. Student protests are not always just about school fees or dodgy vice chancellors. Sometimes the students protest because they’re afraid for their lives and they feel that not enough is being done to save from becoming just another figure in Kenya’s crime stats.
