The Kenya University Students Organisation (KUSO) leaders have promised to take war to the government in the event that the University Elections amendment Bill is passed.
Addressing the media at Milimani Law courts in Nairobi on January 23, where the newly elected leaders had a briefing, KUSO incumbent Vice Chairperson Brian Reeves Obare sent a clear message to Majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale and the government, asking them to keep off Universities' student leadership.
"....We find this insulting, barbaric and whatever the government is trying to do is taking us back o the dark days. It took us years of hard work and sacrifice to be where we are today. We are not going to allow the government, be it Duale, to take us back," the Vice Chair said.
The Bill which was tabled by Majority leader Aden Duale seeks to make major changes on how varsity student leadership is to be run as follows:
1. There shall be elected three representatives from each electoral college who shall take part in electing the students' council.
2. The student council of any varsity shall consist of only seven members; Chairperson, Vice Chairperson (Opp. Gender), Treasurer, Secretary General and any other three other officials of special interest.
3. A person who has held office as a member of the student council of a University for two terms is disqualified from election as a member of the student council of any other university or constituent college in Kenya.
"..It is time we student leaders and the students come out and to tell Duale and the government that student leadership and student elections are not anyone's girlfriend. ...Today we are here in solidarity to send a message to the government, that we are only going to allow elections by students and not by representatives." Reeves said in response to the Bill.