University students meet over high fees, insecurity

University students now want the Government to scrap high fees and address rising insecurity in campuses.

Under their national body, the Kenya University Students Organisation (Kuso), the students from all universities have put their vice chancellors on notice over the issues.

They noted that the high fees were locking out hundreds of bright students while those already in campus were living in fear due to rising insecurity.

This emerged when over 100 student leaders from all the universities started a two-day retreat at Panorama Hotel in Naivasha.

Addressing the Press, the organisation's president, Babu Owino, said fees for regular students should be scrapped as it had become a burden for many.

He added that the Higher Education Loans Board should increase its allocation to the students and should be used solely for upkeep rather than tuition.

"We want a task force formed to address the fees since it is the right of Kenyans to get quality education," he said.

According to Kuso patron Steve Mbogo, it was evident that the Government was unable to address rising cases of insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

Mr Mbogo challenged the Government to urgently address challenges facing the country and students in the universities.

"We are tired of having a government and opposition yapping every day instead of addressing issues like insecurity and high university fees," he said.

Kuso Secretary General Charles Juma put the VCs of Kisii and Kenyatta universities on notice for intimidating their students.

Mr Juma accused the former of failing to reinstate student leaders even after Parliament endorsed them, adding that students had the right to freedom of association.

"This retreat will address rising insecurity and school fees in the universities and we expect to chart a way forward," he said.

Elizabeth Gathii from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology noted that cases of robbery and rape were on the rise on all campuses.

"We are tired of the rising cases of insecurity not only in our towns but also in the universities as our VCs sit back and watch," she said.