A big number of students at Kisii University have resorted to staying outside school following inadequate hostels within the campus.
This is after the September intake where first year students are given first priority in room allocation in the university premises. Their stay has numerous life threatening challenges with rampant incidences of theft occasioning serious security lapses within their areas of stay.
Students who have been unlucky to have been attacked spoke of the horrible experiences some of which take place in their private rooms.
“It was at 2am when I heard them pushing and pulling my door. Before I could do anything, they were already in armed with pangas and other weapons. They started beating me up threatening to kill me if I did not comply with their demands,” Naftal Mangoa says.
He says that the thugs took everything he had in the room including his laptop and an android phone worth Sh15,000. He added that he reported the matter to the police one week ago but nothing has been done so far by the police or the area sub-chief.
Many Kisii University students living outside the university they live deeper in the village.
Among the notorious sections of the village hit by insecurity cases include Riverside and Manoti areas where many students are concentrated.
Those carrying out the robbery activities have not been identified yet but the villagers have blamed two things; that may be these students who are many in these quarters steal from each other since they know each other well or that some village children who are school dropouts could be the ones engaging in the vice.
James Mogire,m a villager, who has faced the same challenges said that Nyamage village is far behind in development and even social life. He accused illegal brews for the increased crime in the area.
“The village is in a mess as most of the parents here drink daily as if it is their business. Now, if that is what they do, who do you expect to show these kids morals?” he posed.
He added: “The children here do not go to school. They are all outside here just hovering around.”
The students and the village residents are calling for serious action to be taken to curb the worrying situation before it gets out of control.
The students have called for all security enforcers to come to their aid so they can be assured of safety as they prepare for their exams.