Nearly 4, 600 students have missed accommodation at Maseno University’s main campus as it reopened Saturday last week.
The university whose bed capacity stands at just over 4, 000, according to PR officer Jasper Otieno, reopened with more than 8, 000 learners; This is one of its highest numbers at any one time.
Scores of learners struggled to get rooms in inadequate and expensive privately owned hostels as late as Friday after the institution returned to an old formula of issuing hostels.
Rooms were given to students who had cleared fees and booked for them online on a first come first served basis.
Last year the university ditched the formula, allowing students to book and occupy hostels before paying fees.
Government-sponsored students who are dependent on higher education loans board (Helb) said the formula locked them out of getting rooms after the loaner delayed to disburse the funds.
Unscrupulous investors moved in to reap on the universities’ accommodation shortfall as thousands risked high rise buildings still under construction after failing to secure rooms.
The new hostels cost between Sh8, 000 and Sh15, 0000, which is less than half what they fetch in older buildings
Most of these buildings however do not follow standard construction procedures, exposing the learners to grave danger in the event these weak structures collapse.
“The university is not responsible for the accommodation of learners and the varsity’s main campus hostels are issued on a first come, first served basis,” said Otieno, a university staff.
Those in Kisumu and Homa Bay campuses are also housed at own cost by private investors.