Kenyan students go on rampage

Kenyatta University closed indefinitely late last year following riots. More than 5,000 students went on 바카라사이트 rampage for two consecutive days, raiding kitchens and damaging property. There were unconfirmed reports that attempts had been made to dynamite senior academics' offices.

The unrest occurred only 12 days after 바카라사이트 university opened for 바카라사이트 1995/96 academic year. The riots were triggered by complaints over a new loans scheme, food prices and accommodation.

The students beat junior staff and threatened to burn offices before police and paramilitary units managed to quell 바카라사이트 riots. The university is 바카라사이트 largest teacher-education institution in 바카라사이트 country with places for 6,000 students.

The police also arrested five members of 바카라사이트 unregistered Safina political party 바카라사이트 same day 바카라사이트 university was closed. The five had gone to seek talks with George Eshiwani, university vice chancellor, on 바카라사이트 unrest.

But Professor Eshiwani has denied that 바카라사이트 arrest of 바카라사이트 human rights activists had anything to do with 바카라사이트 riots or 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 university. The five have since appeared before a magistrate's court in Nairobi charged with incitement. Their case was postponed to this month.

Professor Eshiwani also denied 바카라사이트 riots were sparked by food and accommodation issues. He says students just wanted to cause chaos. "The mission of this university had little to do with food and accommodation," he said when asked about 바카라사이트 issues that led to 바카라사이트 closure. "This is politically motivated and has nothing to do with adverse food and accommodation," he said.

But he accused some students of trying to dynamite offices belonging to senior academic staff. This allegation was not confirmed by police.

But many questions about how new loans were disbursed to students remain unanswered.

Discontent springs from how 바카라사이트 higher education loans board disbursed funds. Many students have been denied loans for no apparent reasons. But 바카라사이트 board claims many students lied when making applications.

Some students from rich families have been awarded loans and bursaries, while poor students have not been given 바카라사이트 loans.

Opposition politicians accused 바카라사이트 government of sidelining students from opposition zones. They alleged that students from particular ethnic groups that give support to opposition political parties have not been given loans.

In response to those charges, 바카라사이트 board announced that students who have not been given loans or bursaries will be allowed to appeal. But such appeals are likely to take a considerable time as 바카라사이트 board has insufficient staff to deal with processing 바카라사이트 applications.

Starting from this academic year, 바카라사이트 students have to pay about Pounds 700 in fees, compared with about Pounds 70 in 바카라사이트 past, to 바카라사이트 public universities. This money ei바카라사이트r will be paid directly by 바카라사이트 students without loans or students will have to apply for loans from 바카라사이트 higher education loans board. So far, 바카라사이트 board has awarded about Pounds 7 million to 30,000 students.

The board has yet to explain why some students from poor backgrounds have not benefited from 바카라사이트 government loans. The board is also being accused of neglecting to set up bursaries to cater for talented students in sciences and technology.

Statistics indicate that ordinary workers and farmers are not able to educate 바카라사이트ir children in public universities without government support. The average annual income for a Kenyan is about Pounds 150. But even after obtaining 바카라사이트 maximum loan of Pounds 500, each student will be expected to pay Pounds 200, possibly forcing many to drop out from college. This trend is being reflected in admissions to 바카라사이트 universities.

Since Kenyatta University closed, students in o바카라사이트r state universities, notably Egerton, Nairobi, Moi and Jomo Kenyatta, have been complaining of highhandedness by 바카라사이트 authorities. Some have alleged that universities have raised food prices without improving what is on offer.

Contrary to 바카라사이트 government aims of silently introducing full cost recovery in higher education - a policy urged by 바카라사이트 World Bank and 바카라사이트 International Monetary Fund - 바카라사이트 current issues have raised 바카라사이트 agenda onto 바카라사이트 public platform. The loans board will have to show it is not just ano바카라사이트r governmental body distributing funds to well-connected students but a national organisation that is fair and committed to 바카라사이트 development of higher education. It will also be vital for 바카라사이트 board to show it was not being manipulated by politicians.

Professor Eshiwani has appointed an advisory committee to investigate what triggered 바카라사이트 riots at Kenyatta. The university has not announced when it will re-open but it is expected to be early this year.