I do not clearly understand the supposed reasons for this strike/demo/riot,whatever it is supposed to be.

I will say this though,if I had a child at university or had contributed money for anyone to go to university and they were throwing stones or generally disturbing the peace,that signals the beginning of the end of my support for them in that regard.

Some one said here that the duty of the university administration is to make sure that strikes do not happen,that is not so. They are there to facilitate you to get the education you paid for. Prof. Mugendi may be a little dictator,but the fact is you are not there forever and she does not stop you from going to class or reading,or sitting your exams,or does she?
You have a choice,and as much as there is peer pressure and all the rest,in the end you graduate alone,not with your pals.

Just to give you an example,last year the parking fee was raised 100%,I would like to know how many cars were stoned because of that.

Thinking is free...............so THINK!!

My final contribution to this topic is this.

The administration is in charge of ensuring the safety of all the students especially those who are not on strike. They are not supposed to add fuel to the fire by coming up with their own rules of what they want....Just because they are right. After having just seen that VC twice,I can assure you that she is a pathetic people manager. You do not force your way into peoples minds,just because you are right....Cajoling and tuning are part of the admin's job.

Who in his right mind did not expect trouble from students when you tell them on Sunday that they have exams on Monday? Does she need to be a genius? It is very obvious she is not.

I am not condoning destryoing property but I believe that there are times when some things happen because of not thinking out things and expecting a different result when the whole world knows the opposite.

In your computer table it all looks very easy for the student to choose the right path and not stone cars. but who are you fooling? Peer pressure,exam pressure,money pressure,personal issues can lead to a fire in the hands of young people who's hormones are on fire. That is why you have a Dean's office. To control these fire.

As far as I can see,I expect another riot in KU if that VC now suspends everyone who was taken to court by inept police. She will no doubt charge every student for this without doing any due process and Yes,there will be another riot.

She needs to cool her horses for a while and stop making everyone an enemy. Campus riots were controlled by one man called Mbithi on his own. He would suddenly show up when people were planning on striking and everything was good after that. He would personally go to Central and get the release of students arrested by the cops. You know what,guys loved him and there were fewer riots during his tenure. It was only later that we learned that he had friends with the student leaders,cooks,stone throwers etc. He somehow knew what was going to happen before it did. But not this KU administration.

Two riots in one year is one too many and it shows a lacking administration.

That is all I have to say about this topic.

your last post was too fresh! i never knew accents and body language could be typed so vividly,its like I can see you talking! pole anyway,am glad you are safe now.

Sometimes I think these strikes are a reflection of the society. How many of us feel like we would strike right now against the authorities for all the things that have gone wrong? But,we would not because of the responsibility that carries....You and I could list all the things that could push us to doing it. Having said that,there is absolutely no justification for rioting much less destruction of other people's property. It is always good to find better avenues for addressing our grievances.

Patience Pays in Guaranteed Checks

I CAN TELL ALBERTROSS NEVER WENT TO ANY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. YOU PROBABLY DONT KNOW THE STUDENTS EXPERIENCES ESPECIALLY WITH VERY LITTLE FINANCES FOR THEIR UPKEEP.JUST DONT BE BIASED IN YOUR THINKING! IF THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEM,THEN THE STUDENTS SHALL LOOK FOR MEANS OF BEING HEARD ( 'ROOTING' AND RIOTING) THOUGH I DONT APPROVE OF IT. BUT WE MIMIC OUR LEADERS. JUST A THOUGHT,THESE HOOLIGANS WOULD BE THE SAME AS THOSE OF PEV

hey

@Wendz: I totally agree with you that there should be some decency in the student's dress and you summarise it very succinctly when you say;

'Every work place has a dress code. May be if she used 'decency' they would understand - somehow.... what is wrong with universities having dress codes. I am not sure she is asking more than them being decent..... no tumbo-cuts,miniskirts,shorts etc. Thats how strathmore is..... May be she felt the students have gone over-board in their 'dress down'.... may be dressed down literally.'


I know you did not have guts to mention one thing,being the decent lady that you are: and that is display of thongs by ladies. I went to collect my certificate last year and was wondering to myself whether the whole university had turned into a playboy mansion!!!

@magigi

Thank God am not alone in this! I almost said exactly that.....

@Mcreg

Albertross is talking of real life experiences. so many times we have had to push our deadlines earlier than previously set. Look at farmers,who tells them when to plant? God doesnt say,'hey dude,i will make it rain on 30th March 2009 at 3.16.04pm so get your hoe and seeds ready.............' Thats real life. So,you have to adjust yourself to the timetable. And after wasting their time stoning hardworking kenyan's vehicles what did they expect? the university to adjust to their timetable and compensate for the time they lost or to adhere to the set academic timetable? Even form four students know,if they go on strike and burn their domitories,the final exams will start on 21 October each year or thereabouts.... Besides,these are full time students. what else were they expected to do if not studying? Stoning cars,looting and stealing?

Some deals are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.

This is clearly an indication that something has gone terribly wrong with our society. From primary schools to secondary schools to campuses and the general public as a whole. Who taught us that problems are solved by violence and destruction of property? Why don't we hear of such incidents in our neighbouring countries? Clearly this is a terrible cancer that has afflicted our society. I believe there is only one solution. We must learn that all our actions have consequences. In this case if it means expelling half the students then so be it. Then maybe we will learn

R

For those advocating for 'decent' dressing in college,why not just make every college student go to your church while at it.

The reason it's called a university is because its a place where young people go find themselves. If you want children to dress well,start at home. In the university,it is too late! And if dressing is the only thing that you think goes on there,then you need a lesson in young people's hormones. Including the hormones of those wearing long skirts.

When it comes to how people dress in college,the woman is way over her terms of employment.

Striking students are an ugly scene. It is an ugly scene because it shows exactly what is going on in our country. I wanted them arrested then I remembered the police in Kenya don't investigate anything. They enter a dorm 'huyo ni student,lete yeye hapa. Ana strike!'. So I really doubt if those who started this were ever arrested.

We have students who seem to have lost the plot. I was in that UON and never imagined burning my own dorm. That is really uncouth. I support Ida Odinga in this.

But have you seen the difference between what Ida said and that Mugendi woman said? That VC woman is only interested in punishing people before she even asks what is going on. What is she doing there? A press conference promising fire and brimestone will not stop campus riots. It infact makes them worse. I agree with alma,the admin is part of the problem in this thing. You don't tell starving people how to dress and only talk to them through the press.

This is the Kenyan society. The ones in charge thinking they know everything will not listen to anyone. The ones who are being done,decide to take the law in their own hands. In the end,no one is listening and another house is burned. This time,the politicians were not there. Only we Kenyans.

This is very sad.
As for the simplistic solution to expell all students. It seems you are very young or not well read. Campus students have been rioting and expelled forever. It has never stopped one single riot!

Lets not generalise the issue.when a handful of hooligans meticulously organise the 'riots'and i believe most are free walkin in their homes,most inocent students are caught flat footed in the campus compound then we blame the all students.

hey