Kisii University Deputy Vice-chancellor has fiercely defended the new accommodation regulations that received formidable rebellion from the students’ body.
Under the new regulations, only first year students will be given a priority for accommodation within the university premises, while senior students will be required to seek alternatives outside the school compound.
Previously though, university hostels were distributed to students on” first come first serve” basis, but the institution reverted to new rules after experiencing accommodation crisis due to exponential growth of student population.
However, Prof Maurice Amutabi has faulted the student union for opposing the rules that were unanimously passed by the senate, terming the opposition as “ill-advised and unnecessary” since the institution is growing at a rapid rate, and first years will be prejudiced if subjected to previous rules.
“It’s unfortunate that our able union is opposing these new regulations. I think they should not fear since senior students familiar with the place and will not go through trauma when looking for alternatives like the new comers,” he said.
According to the don, the new regulations were precipitated by increasing number of students, especially after introduction of double intake policy by the government.
“It is not our fault to subject our dear students to such rules. As you may understand, the double in-take that was introduced a couple of years ago has caused all these,” noted Amutabi.
However, the student body, led by Rodgers Nyanumba has termed the policy as “oppressive and retrogressive”, since it will inconvenience students from humble backgrounds.
“Staying outside campus is very expensive. We will oppose these regulations will till we find an amicable solution to the stalemate,” noted Nyanumba.
Besides accommodation, cooking in the hostels was banned, alongside using coils and other flammable materials.