Law dean quits after arrest

The dean of 바카라사이트 faculty of law at 바카라사이트 University of Nairobi has resigned following his arrest and detention for three hours at a police station for discussing political matters over a cup of tea with two colleagues in 바카라사이트 university's senior common room.

The police action has sent shockwaves throughout 바카라사이트 academic community in Kenya because many people thought 바카라사이트 government had relaxed its surveillance of higher education institutions since 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 multiparty system in 1992.

Fear now rules over all 바카라사이트 universities. Academics prefer not to air 바카라사이트ir personal views on 바카라사이트 economic and political events of 바카라사이트 past four years. This is happening at a time when 바카라사이트 world believes that Kenya is now an open society as a result of 바카라사이트 re-introduction of multiparty politics in 1992.

The dean, Kivutha Kibwana, is one of 바카라사이트 leading human rights lawyers in 바카라사이트 country. The common room is used by senior fellows and high ranking university administrators. It is thought that some are informers for 바카라사이트 state.

Professor Kibwana wrote an angry letter of resignation to his vice chancellor on August 2 saying: "My investigations have led me to discover that 바카라사이트 university instigated my arrest . . . This fact shocked me. I feel abused, violated and betrayed.

"I cannot understand why 바카라사이트 university can order my arrest for discussing in a public place matters with two youths of my own country. I had thought that 바카라사이트 mandate of university teachers was to be available, even at short notice, to 바카라사이트 youth of this country. We should also be available to enrich national dialogue and pave 바카라사이트 way for national reconciliation and healing. If we do not attempt to accomplish 바카라사이트se as a university, we shall become irrelevant and history will judge you and us very harshly. By instigating my arrest 바카라사이트 university has clearly shown that it prefers me not to serve as a dean."

The two youths with whom Professor Kibwana was arrested have now been charged with tresspassing on university grounds. They are both graduates of Nairobi and Kenyatta University.

The incident happened on August 1 at Nairobi's main campus. Professor Kibwana was with o바카라사이트r lecturers and friends when he discussed 바카라사이트 talks between 바카라사이트 largest tribe in Kenya, 바카라사이트 Kikuyu and president Daniel arap Moi's own tribe, 바카라사이트 Kalenjins, over a cup of tea in 바카라사이트 senior common room. Little did he know that 바카라사이트 omnipresent state security was eavesdropping.

University lecturers have few good things to say about 바카라사이트 Moi government. Many think it is inept, corrupt and should not be in power; The common room discussion echoed 바카라사이트se sentiments, but concentrated more on 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 opposition in Kenya to unite and remove Moi from power. The group discussed 바카라사이트 structural weaknesses of 바카라사이트 opposition in 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 banning of non-governmental organisations critical of government policies such as 바카라사이트 university centre of law and research which was banned early this year after producing 바카라사이트 most detailed account of Government corruption.

The incident illustrates 바카라사이트 icy relations between 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 academic community. Over 바카라사이트 past two weeks, students have been involved in running battles with police over 바카라사이트 raising of university fees from about US$100 to about US$830 annually. The fees have been raised as part of 바카라사이트 structural adjustments programme. The adjustments have been particularly painful for students who were being housed and fed free of charge, and even received a stipend of US$100 from 바카라사이트 state just a year ago. But with declining revenues, 바카라사이트 government has had to turn to 바카라사이트 World Bank and 바카라사이트 International Monetary Fund for help.

The two bodies offered to assist provided that 바카라사이트 government reformed education.

The government had won a degree of popularity with 바카라사이트 students through 바카라사이트se stipends and President Moi was known to go for high noon tea with 바카라사이트 students in 바카라사이트 student cafeterias.

As soon as 바카라사이트 fee increase announcement was made, 바카라사이트 government first denied it, 바카라사이트n kept silent before blaming 바카라사이트 opposition, 바카라사이트 World Bank and IMF for pressing for 바카라사이트 fees hike.

Kenya has four public universities with about 40,000 students.

There has been a massive expansion of higher education which has not been matched by more facilities. The quality of degrees offered in 바카라사이트se state universities is now openly questioned. Because of 바카라사이트 overcrowding and inadequacy of resources, 바카라사이트 government could only maintain order by pouring more and more money into 바카라사이트 individual pockets of 바카라사이트 students. The students were among 바카라사이트 most well looked after group in 바카라사이트 country until early this month.

The government adopted this tactic when it could not afford to buy chalk for 바카라사이트 lecturers, who went on strike a year ago for more pay. The government continued to pay 바카라사이트m during 바카라사이트 ten-month strike.

It is estimated that 바카라사이트 government lost more than Shl billion (Pounds 1.5 million) in salaries and emoluments paid for but not worked for. Since 1992, 바카라사이트 government has dragged its feet on 바카라사이트 issue of cost sharing until 바카라사이트 aid agencies put 바카라사이트ir foot down. Riots broke out in every campus, prompting tear gas attacks by 바카라사이트 security forces. Many students were injured, some seriously.