Kisii University Vice Chancellor has asked all student bodies across the nation to embrace dialogue when handling matters pertaining to students in their respective institutions.
Speaking on Thursday during the swearing in of the varsity’s new secretariat, Prof John Akama reiterated that the repeated mayhem and unrest normally witnessed in institutions of higher learning is as a result of unwillingness to apply dialogic method of conflict resolution.
“Student leaders should be always ready to dialog with management. It is unfortunate that in most cases, we witness unnecessary demonstrations that results to rampant looting and sometimes deaths of innocent students,” said Akama.
“No one is perfect, not even Professors. We ought to be prepared all times to apply democratic means of solving pertinent problems and desist from inciting your fellow comrades to go to streets every time we disagree,” added Akama.
He said that students’ body should be the legitimate intermediary of students to the administration; hence whatever they suggest is always taken seriously.
According to the scholar, when students get opportunity to serve in the secretariat, they forget their representatives and start championing certain issues for their selfish gain.
“I would like to remind you that most times you pursue your interests and mislead your fellow students,” noted Akama.
He urged the new body to consult widely when implementing their manifesto besides being truthful, transparent and accountable when managing student funds.
“Remember that accountability and transparency is not negotiable. This is crucial whenever you want to prosper in the political arena and this is why we hold elections annually to prepare you for national leadership hence you must stick to principles of democracy,” added the professor.
In March this year, the University senate convicted four student leaders for allegedly inciting their colleagues to illegally demonstrate and subsequently suspended them. However, Parliamentary Select Committee on Education led by Sabina Chege acquitted the four.