Students
in universities across the country have been involved in a number of riots over
a number of issues. Most pressing issues that provoke the riots are shared by
almost all students in the universities.
The
most recent incident is when Kisii University students went on rampage and the
main campus shut down after their management introduced a new system of fee
payment. The students seemed to have not welcomed the move in which they
claimed was imposed on them without prior consultations.
Here
are some of the main concerns that result into unrest in the universities in
Kenya:
Lack
of dialogue:
University
students go on rampage if negotiations between them and their managements do
not bear fruits. This happens especially when stringent rules are implemented
on them without their participation. In some occasions, student leaders are
blamed for colluding with managements to pass such rules that seem
unaccommodating to the affected population.
Delay
of HELB disbursement:
Varsity
students rely on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for paying tuition fees as
well as their own upkeep in campus. When the loans body delays in disbursing
the funds, it triggers demonstrations. University of Nairobi students and from
other campuses in Nairobi for instance, have been reported many times going to
Anniversary towers where the HELB offices are located to demand for the same.
Insecurity
Since
most universities face shortage in accommodation spaces, a number of students reside
off campus. However, there are many cases of insecurity where students are
robbed even at gunpoint while others stabbed. Therefore, students demonstrate
over insecurity in their residential places blaming their universities of
inadequate accommodation and uncaring of students’ safety.
Heavy
fee levies
Masinde
Muliro University (MMUST) students lately demonstrated against increased
examination fee after management failed to listen to their plea. This is also
common to many universities who want to meet their financial needs in terms of
human resource planning and infrastructural development.
Ethnicity
and Interference of student elections:
Recently,
Maseno students rioted over what they claimed police destructed their election
campaigns leading to deaths of two students. Some universities administrations
are claimed by students to contribute in determining who to win elections. As a
result, rigging leads to riots.
These among many other
factors, are the main reasons contributing to riots in the Kenyan universities
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