Methods devised by universities to deal with unruly students sometimes leave parents and guardians helpless. Imagine as a parent having opted to pump hundreds of thousands, to have your child in university. After having sacrificed all that, you come to be told heart-breaking news that your child has been expelled or suspended from the institution for some time.
Worst of all, for expulsion cases, there is usually no refund for any amount of money spent by the affected student. With the university management even not having in mind, the hardships and challenged faced by parent and guardian to keep the student in school. The trick that the universities use is to silence the notorious students, who are believed to be inciting the rest.
These ones might even be locked in prison through orders by management, so as to ease tension among the rest. Obviously, when the ring leader is whisked away, the other students will be left stranded like a flock lacking shepherd. That would mean it will take time for them to identify another leader who can fit in the shoes of silenced leader.
EXCESSIVE USE OF POWER TO RIOTING STUDENTS
In extreme circumstances, police are even said to have dealt mercilessly with the rioting students. In a recent video which had gone viral, policemen were captured beating ruthlessly a JKUAT student during riots. Not forgetting a case of last year whereby Meru University student leader was shot dead for claims that he was instigating other students to riot.
You can just imagine the pain that the parents of slain 6th year engineering student felt, losing their son without a reason. Think of a situation in Pwani University, whereby their student leader Fikirini Jacobs spent days in cells only for him to be expelled at last. Moi University recently suspended 47 students said to have led the others in rioting.
Zetech student leader faced expulsions for leading students in demanding fee reduction. Masinde Muliro student leader together with his cabinet and others were also sent home for staging demonstrations. Kenyatta University student Joshua Ayika was suspended after lobbying for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Wainaina in what was termed as running the institution downwards.
The above are just but among many universities who have expelled and suspended students under the ground of disciplinary basis as they term it. As per investigation by the nation, over 300 students have been sent home for the last two years. This has triggered concern from the public with some questioning the exercise.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
Kenya University Student Organisation leader Nimoh Sheikh has called upon an urgent attention to the issue of suspension and expulsion. "If the issue is not urgently addressed, we might end up having universities with students not interested in seeking elective positions." Lamented Nimoh. Embakasi East M.P and former University of Nairobi student leader Babu Owino has petitioned the National Assembly concerning the matter.
"There have been concerns about office abuse over student expulsions and suspensions by university management whenever the students raise matters they want addressed." Read part of Mr Owino's petition. Owino argued that the expelled and suspended students had right to others, considering that even others were expelled in their final years. "The punishments meted are at times excessive noting that others are even excelled in their final years." Added Mr Owino.