<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
In most occasions when a sponsor is mentioned,
people quickly deduce that it is all about a person or organization that has a
responsibility for another one, especially on religious, legal or financial aspects. But the term ‘sponsor’ is a colloquial
expression that has gained a new meaning referring to sugar daddies and
mummies. Their description is almost similar to what people call today Team
Mafisi, only that ‘sponsors’ are affluent people who only want sexual
favours in exchange of money. Most university female students are easily
falling prey to sugar daddies. As the number of these ‘sponsors’ escalate in
universities in Kenya, parents are worried that they may not get the expected
moral outcomes from their sons and daughters who join the higher learning
institutions. Kenya is developing a flourishing "Silicon Savanah" Karatina University closed indefinitely after students clash with local community Court rules employers cannot ban office romance Lack of chastity, defined roles for men and women pose threat to families Since the young people in campus are sexually
active by the age of 20, they are ready to do anything for the financially
stable men and women in exchange for money, regardless of their age, health or
marriage status. Confessions by some of the victims reveal that
most of the students who fell in the hands of the ‘sponsors’ began the love for
pleasure and expensive lifestyles even when they had their boyfriends. Cynthia (real name concealed), met a boyfriend
who was in second year at the time she was admitted as a fresher. Her boyfriend
lured her with money and goodies which she says was part of his HELB loan. This
was the beginning of a new and expensive lifestyle in campus, a life she had
never experienced while at home. She also got her HELB loan in her second
semester after successfully applying for it. The loan spiced up her luxurious
living. She later met a league of ladies who introduced her to going to night
clubs and drinking sprees on weekends. While there, she was hooked up by her
friends to some affluent fellas who used to entice her with a happy life so
long as she satisfies their sexual desires. At first, Cynthia was resistant but when she
became broke and her boyfriend could not satisfy her financial needs any
longer, she was finally convinced to accept offers from a retired army officer
and was even ready to move in with him as a second wife. As a result, she could no longer stay in her
university’s hostel but went ahead to live a self-contained house the officer
had rented for her in an estate near Kisii town. Luxury was the order of the day while attending
to lectures was a thing of the past despite efforts by her classmates to talk
to her. Although she had got a man who provided everything she asked for, she
found herself into a trap she could not easily run away from. The officer’s wife realized her husband’s
clandestine lover, which prompted her to report the matter to the police. After
investigations, Cynthia was arrested and her parents called in to solve the
matter. The situation taught her a hard lesson even as she lives to tell the
turning point of her life. Cynthia says university students more so ladies
are prone to looking for ‘sponsors’ when they face financial difficulties. “This is
why they (sponsors) target campus ladies because they know they will be
attracted to their rich pockets. Some of the students may not necessary come
from poverty stricken families but the kind of lifestyles they take up are what
contribute largely,” she describes. According to her, most campus girls desire to
live a stylish and high class kind of life and adapting to the changing world,
be it fashion or technology. She adds that the ‘sponsors’ are always ready to
accommodate pretty young ladies only for sexual favours. Phyllis, another university student, paints the
real picture on the kind of ‘sponsors’ who target the university students. She
notes that the ‘sponsors’ comprise of both middle-aged and old guys who play
the game. They range from tycoons and prominent politicians above 50 years of
age, to young professionals such as yuppies or young entrepreneurs. “They engage university students because they
are either bored with their marriage partners or just want to make fun with
young ladies,” says Phyllis. She adds that they perform a range of activities
for their secret lovers such as paying their school fees and house rent, taking
them to holiday trips, buying them cars, houses as well as household shopping.
She adds that varsity ladies are prevalent to falling into the traps of
‘sponsors’ more than their male counterparts since many of them are old rich
men seeking pleasure. Phyllis says the ‘sponsors’ not only meet the
young ladies in clubs, but also come for them personally in campus. They
include some of the lecturers and non-teaching staff, who regularly are spotted
driving their posh cars towards the university on weekends, only to fish out
their concubines. Moreover, some of them use other university
students who link them up to beautiful ladies by giving out mobile phones
numbers and the names they use on social media. Worried parents admit it is hard to understand
ladies when they join universities because of the long distance between them
and their children in campus. They wish that their daughters do not emulate
such habits from their peers. Kisii University assistant dean of students
Francis Kerongo, condemns such behaviour and urges varsity students to shun
from engaging with these kind of people. He attributes the issue to lack of sex
education among the university students. “As a person who deals closely with students’
matters I become disturbed when I see young innocent ladies who join campus
develop the lust for money in exchange for sex. Universities have counseling
departments and they must carry out sex education regularly to keep our
students on track,” he notes.
READ MORE
How university students are falling prey of 'sponsors'
By Innocent Tsalwa
| Oct. 26, 2016
